Lauren Moye, FISM NEWS
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The latest data confirms that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 remains mild, with only one hospitalization reported so far and zero deaths in connection to the latest highly-transmissible mutation of the virus.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) released a new report on Friday that contained U.S. data on the virus from Dec. 1-8. The CDC states that 22 states, including those on both coasts and in the central states, have reported at least one case of the Omicron variant. While the CDC only collected data from 43 cases, they reported just one hospitalization among these individuals and zero deaths.
The Omicron variant was first reported on Nov. 24 to the World Health Organization, which designated it a “variant of concern” two days later. The White House banned travel from eight South African countries in response to this announcement. The first U.S. case was reported on Dec. 1 in an individual who had recently traveled from South Africa.
The CDC report shows that international travel has been a factor so far in those who have contracted the Omicron variant, with 14 of the followed-up cases having occurred in individuals who had traveled within two weeks of showing symptoms or receiving a positive test result.
So far the virus has impacted mainly the younger population with 58% of those cases occurring in the 18-39 age range. Additionally, 34 of the cases, or 79%, occurred in fully vaccinated individuals.
Despite the apparent mildness of Omicron – evidenced by the reported numbers and U.S. top medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci’s statement, CDC shared the public report on Facebook with a plea to “protect you and those you love” by getting vaccinated or receiving a booster shot.
FISM previously reported Biden’s Omicron strategy announced in early December: “Though mandates are not addressed, the word vaccine permeates the document, with President Biden making vaccinations and booster shots central to multiple prongs of his plan. The bulk of his plan to prepare for new scenarios was to streamline the process of making new vaccines and boosters available.”
Accordingly, the U.S. plan involves making COVID-19 vaccinations readily available even to school children. However, the CDC report states, “One vaccinated patient was hospitalized for 2 days, and no deaths have been reported to date.”
The CDC also states that six of the Omicron cases occurred in individuals who had previously documented a COVID-19 infection.
The virus variant has also most likely been present in the States for longer than previously believed. One reported case showed symptoms on Nov. 15. The CDC expects to find more examples of November infections as it collects more data.