Michigan is now the 20th state detecting the Omicron variant. It was detected in Kent County December 3rd through the Michigan Disease Surveillance System. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the finding December 9th notifying the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
The state is working with the Kent County Health Department. It’s investigating the case in contact with the infected adult who is fully vaccinated and, who official say, had not received a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Health officials are assessing potential out-of-state exposure and reaching out to contacts.
The Omicron variant was first detected in South Africa on November 11th. Scientists at the CDC say the Omicron variant is more contagious than the original COVID virus. Does it spread more easily than the Delta variant is yet to be determined.
Kent County Health Department Director, Dr. Adam London said, “The identification of the Omicron variant is not unexpected.”
With Omicron now present in the community, health experts recommend vaccination as the most effective way to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death.
