USA: first case of Omicron variant, is in California

Anthony Fauci (Ansa)

• Covid and terrorism, the US advises against trips to Germany and Denmark

• Covid, Fauci: "Two weeks to understand the danger of the Omicron variant"

Share

01 December 2021 The Omicron variant of Covid-19 has also arrived in the USA: it was detected in an infected individual in California.

In a press conference, Anthony Fauci, the chief medical advisor of the White House, announced that the symptoms are "mild" and that the patient, who returned from South Africa on November 22 and tested positive on the 29, is in isolation.

"We are ready to meet the challenge" of the Omicron variant "with science and quickly". This was stated by the White House coordinator for the response to Covid, Jeff Zients, after the confirmation of the first case in the United States, in California. "As the president (Joe Biden) said last Friday, it was only a matter of time before the first case of Omicron was detected in the United States," Zients pointed out, according to which the president's medical team "continues to believe vaccines. existing ones provide some level of protection against the severe form of Omicron and that the recalled individuals have even stronger protection. " For this reason, the appeal is renewed to "all adults to take the third dose,and to get vaccinated and to vaccinate their children if they have not already done so ", concludes the coordinator.

In the US, a new travel squeeze is expected shortly due to the Omicron variant. The announcement in the US could be made as early as Thursday, when Joe Biden will illustrate the winter plan against the pandemic, after the discovery of the American patient zero of the new variant: a person from the San Francisco area returned from South Africa, vaccinated but without a booster, now in isolation with mild symptoms.

Among the new measures under discussion, the obligation for anyone arriving - regardless of vaccination status or country of origin - to have a test 24 hours before the flight and another test within 3-5 days after arrival. In addition, passengers (including those with US citizenship) may be required to carry out a seven-day quarantine, even if the results are negative, and will result in fines and penalties.

Up to now, for those who enter the US, a test (antigenic or molecular) is sufficient up to three days before boarding for the vaccinated and one day before for the unvaccinated. While trying to reassure by saying that the Omicron variant is "cause for concern, but not for panic", Biden does not want to take risks and compromise the increasingly difficult control of the pandemic in a country still under 60% of fully vaccinated (59.4 %).

For this reason, he immediately limited travel from various African countries where the Omicron variant was discovered and pushes for the boosters, which the CDC has now recommended to all adults from 18 years old, while Pfizer has already asked the FDA for the okay. emergency use of the vaccine for 16- and 17-year-olds.

Unfortunately, he also has to deal with the Trumpian-appointed federal judges, such as Terry A. Doughty, who has blocked the vaccine requirement for health professionals (about 10 million) throughout the country.