Omicron Variant Will Arrive In Georgia: Health Officials

ATLANTA, GA — A new variant of COVID-19 has been identified and health officials are preparing for a response.

The omicron variant was identified in South Africa last week and by the World Health Organization. Though it has not reached the U.S., Georgia health officials are poised to respond.

"Responding to the Omicron variant is no different than responding to any other COVID variant," Georgia Department of Public Health spokeswoman Nancy Nydam told Patch. "Vaccination is the key to stopping the spread of COVID and preventing emergence of variants like Omicron. Individuals who are not yet vaccinated need to get vaccinated now."

DPH Chief Medical Officer Alexander Millman told Channel 2 Action News that health researchers are trying to determine just how transmissible the new variant is and said it was just a “matter of time” before a case was discovered in the state.

In a statement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that no cases have been identified in the U.S.

“CDC is continuously monitoring variants and the U.S. variant surveillance system has reliably detected new variants in this country,” the statement said. “We expect Omicron to be identified quickly if it emerges in the U.S.”

Still, the State Department has closed travel from eight countries in the southernmost part of the African continent.

“The Administration announced it will restrict travel from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe starting on November 29 due to concerns over the new Omicron variant,” a State Department announcement said.

CDC officials encourage the public to continue to practice strategies that prevent the spread, including wearing a mask in closed public spaces, social distancing and handwashing. The agency also recommends getting vaccinations and boosters for those eligible.

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