Coronavirus Watch: First known omicron case in US confirmed
The United States' first known case of the omicron variant has been detected in California.
Health officials confirmed Wednesday the new variant was responsible for a traveler's infection who returned from South Africa on Nov. 22. The person, who is fully vaccinated, is in quarantine and had mild symptoms.
“We knew that it was just a matter of time before the first case of omicron would be detected in the United States,” presidential adviser Anthony Fauci said at a White House news briefing.
It's Wednesday, and this is the Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's more news you need to know:
- Worldwide omicron count: 226 omicron cases have been confirmed in at least 21 countries, including Britain, 11 European Union nations, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Canada and Israel.
- Airline travel: The CDC is directing airlines to hand over contact information for passengers coming from eight countries in Africa as part of the effort to combat the new variant.
- Antiviral to treat COVID-19: An FDA expert advisory committee narrowly signed off Tuesday on molnupiravir from Merk and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, the first antiviral to treat COVID-19.
- Televangelist Marcus Lamb, a vocal opponent of coronavirus vaccines who founded the conservative Christian Daystar Television Network, has died of COVID-19, his family said. He was 64.
Today's numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 48.6 million COVID-19 cases and more than 780,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Global totals: More than 263 million cases and 5.2 million deaths. Nearly 197 million Americans – roughly 59.4% of the population – are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.
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— Rachel Aretakis, breaking news editor