The mainstream media, the left, and the White House are reporting on “shocking” news that the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been discovered in the U.S. in a fully vaccinated person.
On December 1st, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the first case of the newly identified Omicron variant was detected in California.
In a press release, the CDC stated that the new variant was found in a fully vaccinated American traveler who had just returned from South Africa on November 22nd.
“The individual, who was fully vaccinated and had mild symptoms that are improving, is self-quarantining and has been since testing positive,” the CDC wrote in the press release, noting that “all close contacts have been contacted and have tested negative.”
The University of California-San Francisco used genomic sequencing to confirm that the case was indeed the Omicron variant.
Speaking at a press briefing, White House chief medical advisor and Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Dr. Anthony Fauci told reporters that the individual had tested positive for the variant on November 29th.
While the individual, who has not been identified, was fully vaccinated, he had reportedly not received a booster shot.
“The individual is self quarantining and all close contacts have been contacted and all close contacts, thus far, have tested negative,” Fauci said. “We feel good that this patient not only had mild symptoms but actually the symptoms appear to be improving.”
The White House released a statement about the case, which reads: “It was only a matter of time before the first case of Omicron was detected in the U.S. We are prepared to meet this challenge with science and speed.”
“The President’s medical team continues to believe that existing vaccines will provide some level of protection against severe illness from Omicron, and individuals who have gotten boosters have even stronger protection. As such, we urge all adults to get their booster shots and to get themselves and their kids vaccinated, if they haven’t already,” the statement continued.
