NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The Omicron variant continues to unfold, and more cases have been confirmed in Connecticut and New York Metropolis.
Officers stated Sunday a Connecticut man in his 60s from Hartford County began growing gentle signs on Nov. 27 after a member of the family examined optimistic. He was totally vaccinated.
READ MORE: Connecticut Reports First Confirmed Case Of Omicron Variant
His member of the family had not too long ago traveled to the Anime NYC convention on the Jacob Javits Center.
Gov. Ned Lamont stated the person’s signs are gentle.
“The excellent news is within the vaccination. On this case, the affected person is at dwelling resting peacefully, and no must go to the hospital,” he instructed CBS Information’ Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation.
Connecticut has reported its first confirmed case of the brand new #Omicron variant within the state. @GovNedLamont tells @margbrennan thus far indications present it’s a gentle an infection but it surely’s not but clear how widespread the variant is. pic.twitter.com/AKh8fjc4JZ
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) December 5, 2021
In New York, there are three new confirmed cases, bringing the entire to eight.
Omicron has been present in at the least a dozen states, and is spreading twice as quick as different variants in some locations, officers stated.
However for now, the Delta strain stays dominant, with new infections nationwide rising 36%. Hospitalizations are additionally rising, with Rhode Island, Connecticut and Delaware among the many hardest hit.
“The large query is whether or not or not Omicron will outcompete Delta. Bear in mind, Delta is dominant, and that’s a particularly harmful variant,” stated Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, a World Well being Group infectious illness epidemiologist.
“I’m involved. Look, Omicron is arising from New York on the I-95 corridors. However Delta is coming down from New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and no state is an island, and no nation is that island,” Lamont added.
COVID VACCINE
Lamont urged residents in state to stay vigilant.
“The folks of Connecticut have been by way of this for a 12 months and a half. They’re doing the best factor. Like I stated, they’re overwhelmingly getting vaccinated, they’re extra prone to put on a masks, do the best factor. So that they don’t want me pushing,” Lamont stated. “However there’s no query about it. Particularly of us of a sure age, keep out of contagious conditions. We simply don’t know sufficient about this variant. Watch out.”
READ MORE: More Omicron Cases Identified In New York; Total Rises To At Least 8
Practically one-third of the nation has but to get a single vaccine dose, as officers brace for a winter surge. They urge folks to not panic, and say in case you are totally vaccinated, now could be the time to get your booster.
Omicron has greater than 50 mutations, together with over 30 within the spike protein, making it simpler to connect itself to human cells, officers instructed CBS2’s Alice Gainer.
Virologist Alex Sigal heads the workforce on the Africa Well being Analysis Institute.
“It’s extra of a Frankenstein than others. It’s at all times one thing new. I imply, the virus retains shocking us,” Sigal stated.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Scientists are testing Omicron in opposition to the blood of totally vaccinated folks and people beforehand contaminated, hoping to have outcomes inside the subsequent week.
“The query proper now could be whether or not or not that is re-infecting individuals who have Delta immunity and haven’t been vaccinated or whether or not it’s additionally going to contaminate individuals who have been vaccinated. There’s some cause to consider vaccines might be extra protecting than simply immunity acquired by way of pure an infection from Delta,” stated Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former Meals and Drug Administration commissioner.
At NYU Langone on Sunday, there was a name for extra analysis and preparation. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Carolyn Maloney joined medical doctors to push for passage of the “COVID-19 and Pandemic Response Facilities of Excellence Act,” which would offer federal funding to chosen educational medical facilities.
“If we’re going to have future epidemics and be responding to them, folks should be educated in that have,” stated Dr. Jay Varma, a professor at Weill Cornell Drugs.
Sen. Chuck Schumer is looking for a surge of free at-home COVID exams to be accessible in additional places for anybody who needs one.
“They need to be distributed to neighborhood well being facilities. They need to be distributed by cell vans,” Schumer stated.
MORE NEWS: First Case Of Omicron Variant Reported In New Jersey
CBS2’s Alice Gainer contributed to this report.
