Omicron Variant Detected In Ohio, 2 Cases Confirmed

OHIO — The first cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19 have been detected in Ohio.

“We have known that it would only be a matter of time until a case of Omicron was detected in Ohio. The CDC believes that this variant has likely been circulating in the U.S. since November,” said Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff.

The two confirmed cases were among adult men in central Ohio, the Ohio Department of Health said. Both infected men were vaccinated but had not yet received a booster shot, health officials added.

“While we will continue to learn more about Omicron in the days to come, early reports from South Africa suggest Omicron may be more contagious and more likely to reinfect people. Naturally, there has been concern regarding whether vaccines would remain protective. The results of the early research regarding vaccines are encouraging, reinforcing the benefits of primary vaccination and timely boosters," Vanderhoff said.

Both infected men are currently experiencing mild symptoms of COVID-19 and have not been hospitalized. Neither man had been out of the country. Additional details about the men are not being released to protect their privacy.

Both cases were sequenced by The Ohio State University lab technicians. Over the past three weeks, the university's labs have sequenced more than 1,000 positive COVID-19 tests, meaning the omicron variant is responsible for approximately 0.2 percent of the positive cases in the lab.

“This variant’s arrival and the continued impact of the delta variant underscore the importance of our best prevention tool, which is choosing to be vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines, coupled with prevention measures, provide the greatest protection from severe illness resulting in hospitalization or death," Vanderhoff said.

Omicron Questions

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the omicron variant has already been detected in some of Ohio's nearby states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Virginia and New York.

• Is omicron more contagious? Researchers are still studying the variant, but the CDC believes they're likely to discover omicron spreads more easily than the original version of the virus. Whether or not omicron is more contagious than delta is not yet clear, CDC said.
• Does omicron make you sicker? More research is needed, CDC said.
• Will vaccines protect me from omicron? The CDC believes the answer is yes and Pfizer (one of the vaccine makers) agrees, though it advocates getting a booster shot as soon as possible for maximum protection.
• Are there treatments for omicron? It's not yet clear if any of the COVID-19 treatments developed by researchers will be effective against the omicron variant, CDC said.

Booster Shots

While the omicron variant could be more contagious and more sickening than previous strands of COVID-19, said Dr. Joseph Gastaldo, medical director of infectious diseases, OhioHealth, it appears vaccines still provide some protection against the virus.

"Getting vaccinated gives you a wonderful layer of protection against severe disease," Gastaldo said.

• Read more: Vaccine Booster Can Prevent Omicron Coronavirus Variant: Pfizer

Adding a third dose of vaccine — more commonly known as a booster shot — should also improve protection against the variant.

Ohio's Current COVID-19 Surge

While the omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to loom as a menace, the delta variant is driving the state's current uptick in cases and hospitalizations. Northern Ohio's hospital systems have especially reported crowded bedding situations and a need to delay nonessential surgeries.

• Read more: COVID-19 Prompts Delay Of Elective Surgeries At Cleveland Clinic

Nearly 4,300 Ohioans are currently hospitalized because of COVID-19, according to the Ohio Hospital Association. That's the highest level of hospitalized COVID-19 patients since last winter, Vanderhoff noted.

Things are even worse in the state's intensive care units, where 1,100 Ohioans are being treated for COVID-19, the Ohio Hospital Association reported. That number rivals previous highs for COVID-19 patients in intensive care units in Ohio.

"The current surge is putting a dangerous strain on the state's health care infrastructure," Vanderhoff said. "We are, yet again, in a dangerous situation."

Dr. Glen Seaman, medical director for Williams County Health District said the vast majority of hospitalized COVID-19 patients he's seeing are unvaccinated.