Omicron: Washington state, Wisconsin, Connecticut report 1st cases of COVID-19 variant

Washington state, Wisconsin and Connecticut have reported their first cases of the omicron coronavirus variant.

According to KIRO-TV, the Washington State Department of Health announced Saturday that three people in the state have tested positive for the variant, including a man in his 30s from Thurston County, a man in his 20s from Pierce County, and a woman in her 20s from King County.

No further details about the patients’ conditions were immediately available. Officials do not believe the cases are related but are continuing to investigate, KIRO reported.

First cases of COVID-19 Omicron variant detected in Washingtonians. Details coming shortly. pic.twitter.com/9Zg4lxpEQV
— WA Dept. of Health (@WADeptHealth) December 5, 2021

Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said officials have confirmed one case of the omicron variant in a fully vaccinated Milwaukee County man who recently returned from South Africa. The patient, who also had received a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, is experiencing mild symptoms and has not been hospitalized, authorities said in a news release.

The first case of the #OmicronVariant has been identified in Wisconsin. Remember, #YouStopTheSpread of COVID-19 and its variants by getting vaccinated & following public health practices. Learn more: https://t.co/q5wO2hpJD7 pic.twitter.com/THyQ880AHB
— WIDeptHealthServices (@DHSWI) December 5, 2021

Later Saturday, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced that his state has confirmed its first case of the variant, a Hartford County man in his 60s. The patient’s relative tested positive for COVID-19 after attending an anime convention in New York that has been tied to omicron cases, Lamont said in a news release. The relative has since recovered, and officials are testing other family members, the release said. Both the patient and the relative were fully vaccinated and reported mild symptoms, officials said.

This evening we confirmed the first case of the Omicron variant in CT.

This is not a cause for alarm. We have life-saving tools available and I urge everyone to take the necessary precautions to fight this pandemic. Get your vaccination. Get your booster. https://t.co/gouzUyHCVx
— Governor Ned Lamont (@GovNedLamont) December 5, 2021

The news came hours after officials in Massachusetts confirmed its first cases of the variant, which also has been detected in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Utah, according to The Associated Press.

– The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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