Omicron Variant: Hogan Urges Vaccination, Testing As Latest COVID Threat Hits America

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Health officials detected America's first case of the new omicron coronavirus variant in California, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday afternoon. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan addressed the Old Line State moments later to emphasize the importance of vaccination and testing in the face of the latest variant.

"While I do not believe in blanket mandates, I do believe in personal responsibility," Hogan said at a Wednesday press conference, mentioning that he is not planning to reinstate coronavirus restrictions. "Getting vaccinated or getting your booster shot is absolutely the best way to protect yourself, your family and your fellow Marylanders this holiday season."

Along with urging immunization, Hogan highlighted local initiatives to expand testing capacity. He pointed to the state's lab partnerships with the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University to look for variants of concern, like omicron.

The governor also mentioned that the state added 500,000 rapid test kits last week. These free kits will be available through local health departments in time for the holidays. The self-administered tests will give results in 15 minutes.

International travelers arriving in Maryland will similarly benefit from rapid tests, which will now be available at the new urgent care facility in Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. This FirstCall Medical Center will additionally offer inoculations and booster shots.

Hogan recommended that residents get tested before and after travel. He also reminded Marylanders to take a test whenever they feel sick.

Efforts like these helped Maryland recently pass 15 million tests administered.

"While there are still a great deal of unknowns about the omicron variant, our state will not wait to launch our preparedness efforts," the governor said, encouraging locals to book a test at covidtest.maryland.gov. "Marylanders shouldn’t wait either."

Omicron Variant

Hogan's update came two days after he got his first briefing on the omicron variant, a coronavirus mutation that recently gained steam in South Africa. The World Health Organization last week classified omicron as highly transmissible.

The delta variant falls into this same category. Delta is now the world's most common variant, and it has fueled a global surge in coronavirus numbers.

The WHO warned residents not to overreact until scientists learn more about omicron. The governor echoed similar caution and hoped for more data in a few weeks

"While many are understandably concerned about the omicron variant, I urge Marylanders not to panic," Hogan said. "This is not the first variant we have seen, and it almost certainly is not going to be the last. Throughout this entire year, we have repeatedly stressed that we are in a race between the vaccines and the variants."

Rising Metrics

Concern about the omicron variant comes as Maryland battles already-rising coronavirus metrics. Hogan said this is part of an anticipated seasonal uptick.

The state's positivity rate is up to 5.13 percent. It was as low as 2.91 percent on Nov. 4. The all-time minimum of 0.54 percent was set on June 28.

Maryland now has an infection rate of 16.04 new cases per day per 100,000 residents. That's higher than the recent low of 11.15 on Nov. 5 and the summertime minimum of 0.9 achieved on June 24.

This spike prompted an increase in hospitalizations. The state's 698 patients are up from the 490 registered on Nov. 14 and the July 1 low of 97.

Maryland has reported 10,987 COVID-19 deaths.

Vaccine Update

The state has 4,099,736 fully vaccinated residents. About 99.9 percent of Maryland seniors and 88.9 percent of adults have gotten at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

Maryland has also made some headway on the newest group eligible for the shot. About 22.7 percent of kids aged 5 to 11 have gotten their first injection since they were cleared for immunization in late October.

Leaders are now urging booster shots. Maryland on Wednesday administered its millionth booster, bringing the state's total to 1,004,758 additional doses.

The state's health and vaccine metrics are updated daily at coronavirus.maryland.gov/.

Who's Eligible

Any fully vaccinated adult is eligible for a booster. Those who got the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna inoculations must wait six months from their second injection to get the additional dose. Those who took the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have to wait two months after their single dose.

The Pfizer immunization is the only one with full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That clearance is good for residents 16 and up. Pfizer also has emergency-use authorization for anybody aged 5 to 15.

The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson inoculations have emergency-use authorization for locals 18 and up.

Emergency-use authorization requires less FDA review than full approval, which is the golden stamp of support from regulators.

Residents can book a vaccine by visiting covidvax.maryland.gov or calling Maryland's multilingual call center at 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829).

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RELATED:

• COVID Omicron Variant Prompts Hogan To Urge Booster Shots In MD
• Indoor Mask Mandate Extended In Prince George's County
• WHO Says Omicron Variant Has Mutations That Are 'Concerning'
• Worrisome Omicron COVID Variant Rattles World Leaders: Here's Why
• New Omicron Variant Stokes World Fears, Triggers Travel Bans
• New COVID-19 Variant In South Africa: Explainer

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