A third case of the Omicron coronavirus variant has been detected in Colorado in a woman who recently returned from southern Africa.
‘Just moments ago, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment confirmed the first Colorado case of the omicron variant,’ Colorado Governor Jared Polis said during a press conference on Thursday.
‘It is somebody who just traveled to southern Africa and returned.’
The news came as President Joe Biden announced a new requirement for international travelers to show a negative Covid-19 test one day before flying to the US, down from the previous policy of three days before traveling.
Polis said that the person who contracted the Omicron variant is experiencing mild symptoms and is isolating at her home. She was vaccinated but had not received a booster shot.
Polis does not believe the Omicron variant is ‘prevalent’ in the state based on samples of Covid-19 tests.
Meanwhile, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued a news release urging residents to get vaccinated.
News of Omicron in Colorado came hours after the second case in the US was confirmed in a Minnesota man who had recently returned from New York City where he attended an anime convention.
Later on Thursday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that five cases of the Omicron variant had been confirmed in the Empire State. There were two cases in Queens, one in Brooklyn and one in Suffolk County, Long Island, Hochul said.
‘New York State has confirmed five cases of the Omicron variant,’ Hochul tweeted. ‘Let me be clear: This is not cause for alarm. We knew this variant was coming and we have the tools to stop the spread. Get your vaccine. Get your booster. Wear your mask.’
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