The first case of Omicron COVID-19 variant in the United States has been confirmed in California. California and San Francisco Departments of Public Health said the infected individual, who is fully vaccinated, was a traveler who returned from South Africa on November 22, according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to World Health Organization (WHO) from South Africa on November 24.  On November 26, the global health body renamed the strain to Omicron and listed it as a variant of concern.

The US, like several other countries, responded by announcing restrictions on travel for non-citizens from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi, effective November 29.

US records first case of Omicron variant in California: CDC

This was after President Joe Biden was briefed by his chief medical advisor, Dr Anthony Fauci, and the White House COVID-19 Response Team, about the Omicron variant, on November 26. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) placed seven of the southern African nations at Level 4 (highest travel risk) on November 27. Botswana had already been at a Level 4 travel warning since July 6.

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Two days later, Dr. Fauci informed the President that it will take approximately two more weeks to “have more definitive information on the transmissibility, severity, and other characteristics of the variant.” Dr Fauci said existing vaccines are likely to provide a degree of protection against severe cases of COVID, according to the White House.

As Omicron cases were found in Canada, Biden called the Omicron variant a “cause for concern, not a cause for panic.” He also ruled out new lockdowns “for now… if people are vaccinated and wear their masks”.

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The CDC on November 30 said it is expanding surveillance at four major international airports to keep an eye out for the Omicron variant in travelers.

President Joe Biden is expected to outline his strategy to combat COVID-19 over the winter, “not with shutdowns or lockdowns but with more widespread vaccinations, boosters, testing, and more.”