How you can protect yourself amid Omicron variant alarms: Here’s what we know.
There is still so much unknown about the Omicron variant, first identified in South Africa amid a spike in infections there, including whether the variant is more transmissible, results in more severe illness or reduces the efficacy of vaccines. But officials and California and beyond are saying the new variant, which has not yet been detected in the United States but is probably already here, requires close attention. “California is closely monitoring the new Omicron variant, which has not yet arrived in California or the U.S. Vaccines continue to be our best way through the pandemic by safely protecting us against severe illness from COVID-19 and its variants,” Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, the state health officer and director of public health, said in a statement. “We are doubling down on our vaccination and booster efforts to ensure that all Californians have access to safe, effective, and free vaccines that can prevent serious illness and death.” Officials are hopeful that a public-private partnership known as COVIDNet will help officials detect Omicron relatively early in California if or when it arrives here. The California Department of Public Health said it is preparing to increase coronavirus testing at airports in California for U.S. citizens and legal residents returning from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi. The CDC is recommending travelers from those countries be tested within three to five days after arrival, quarantine themselves for seven days, and isolate and test if symptoms of COVID-19 develop.
