December 2

Public health authorities in the US have reported their first case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. They confirmed the case in California. They say the individual is a traveler who returned to the US from South Africa.

US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci said, "Genomic sequencing was conducted at the University of California at San Francisco. And the sequence was confirmed at the CDC as being consistent with the Omicron variant."

Fauci says the individual returned to the US last week and tested positive on Monday.

The person was fully vaccinated, has mild symptoms and is in self-quarantine.

All close contacts have tested negative.

Fauci says health authorities knew it was a matter of time before the variant would be found in the US.

NHK