The first case of the Omicron COVID variant has been identified in the U.S. after a fully-vaccinated traveler returned to California following a trip to South Africa.
An unsurprised Dr. Anthony Fauci said “we knew it was just a matter of time” before the strain was detected in the country after it spread to several countries in a matter of days.
Meanwhile, the number of new infections recorded in South Africa has doubled in a single day – rising from 4,373 on Tuesday to 8,561 yesterday – fuelling fears that Omicron could be the most infectious variant discovered so far.
Scientists are continuing rapid research into the 50+ mutations found in the strain – much higher than the Delta variant which sparked a major COVID wave in the U.S. this summer.
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