Omicron in U.S. first case in fully vaccinated man but only very mild

The first case in the U.S. of the Omicron COVID variant has been reported
in San Francisco - patient Zero just returned from South Africa. (Confirmed at UCSF lab.)

He had mild symptoms and has already fully recovered but is self-isolated.

He had two Moderna vaccine shots but no booster.

Reports from South African hospitals is that 90+% of those

in hospital for COVID were unvaccinated. Most cases are in

younger people and are relatively mild, although some are 

severe enough to require an ER visit. 

The World Health Organization has reported that the Thermo Fisher Scientific

RT-PCR COVID test kits can detect the Omicron variant.

Some unidentified kits used in India are also reported to be effective.

Both of Abbott Labs' tests, the rapid (antigen) and more accurate PCR lab test, are effective because they do not rely on testing for the spike portion of the virus which is the segment that opens up cell walls and lets the virus into cells. The spike structure is the area most often involved in changes for the various variants.

 

So far all we know for certain about the Omicron variant of COVID is that mask-wearing and staying out of crowds is nearly perfect protection for this as well as every other airborne vaccine.

Getting vaccinated will almost certainly provide some protection against any COVID variant.