Omicron Variant Confirmed In 3 Maryland Residents: Governor

MARYLAND — The first three cases of the COVID-19 virus omicron variant have been confirmed in Maryland residents, according to the governor.

The Maryland Department of Health on Friday confirmed the three cases of the variant, which was designated as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization on Nov. 26.

"Thanks to our aggressive surveillance system, we have quickly identified the first cases of the Omicron variant in Maryland," Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement Friday.

The three people who have the omicron coronavirus variant are from the Baltimore metropolitan region, the governor reported. Two are from the same household, and one unrelated case is a vaccinated person who has no known recent travel history, officials said.

None of the three people infected has been hospitalized, according to authorities.

Of the two people in the same household, officials said one was a vaccinated person who recently traveled to South Africa and the other person had not been vaccinated against COVID-19 but was in close contact with the vaccinated individual.

The first case of the omicron variant in the United States was reported in California on Wednesday, and was someone who had been vaccinated but had not gotten a booster shot. Omicron cases have since been confirmed in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Colorado and New York.

"This variant is a cause for concern, not a cause for panic," President Joseph Biden said earlier this week.

Federal and state officials are promoting boosters for those who have already been vaccinated against COVID-19.

"We urge Marylanders to continue taking precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe," Hogan said. "Getting a vaccine or a booster shot is the single most important thing that you can do to protect yourself and those around you."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a COVID-19 vaccine or booster locator.

“In addition to getting booster shots, we strongly recommend that Marylanders who have recently returned from international travel or are symptomatic in any way get tested immediately," Maryland Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Jinlene Chan said in a statement Friday. “Currently available PCR diagnostic tests and rapid antigen tests will detect COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant."

The Maryland Department of Health lists coronavirus testing sites, and it began offering free take-home rapid antigen tests at BWI Thurgood Marshall International Airport.

Earlier in the week, Hogan said the state was expanding its variant surveillance and making rapid tests more available in all jurisdictions.

More than 99 percent of the variants circulating in Maryland and the United States are the delta variant, according to a statement from the governor's office.

Scientists are still working to determine how omicron compares with the delta variant in terms of transmissibility and disease severity, and how much the existing vaccines and therapies protect against omicron.

"This is a rapidly evolving situation, and we will continue to keep Marylanders updated as new information becomes available," the governor added.

Officials are using contact tracing to identify any close contacts of those who are infected.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

See Also:

• COVID Omicron Variant Prompts Hogan To Urge Booster Shots In MD
• Hogan Urges Vaccination, Testing As Omicron Variant Lands In US