Texas' 1st Omicron Variant Case Identified In Houston Area

HOUSTON, TX — The first case of the new omicron variant of COVID-19 in Texas has been identified in the Houston area, according to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.

A woman in her 40s from northwest Harris County tested positive for the newest variant of interest, Hidalgo said in a tweet Monday evening. The woman was fully vaccinated and had no recent travel history.

Harris County Public Health and the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed Hidalgo's announcement and are investigating the known case. The woman experienced COVID-19 symptoms but has not required hospitalization, Harris County Public Health said in a statement.

The omicron variant has now reached 17 states after first being identified in South Africa in late November, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Early anecdotal indications are that the omicron variant might result in less severe illness than most COVID-19 variants, Texas A&M epidemiologist Rebecca Fischer said, though she emphasized that not near enough widespread data has been gathered on the variant to know for sure about its severity and ability to spread.

"I would expect that before the end of the year, we will know a lot more than we know now," Fischer said. "Right after Christmas and potentially after some exposures could occur in our everyday life, that should come quickly."

Among Texans age 5 and older, 59.8 percent are fully vaccinated compared to 63.9 percent nationally in that age group, according to data from DSHS and the CDC. Texas' lagging vaccination rate combined with some of the least restrictive COVID-19 measures in the country are factors that could worsen the effects of the omicron variant in the state, Fischer said.

These factors could have an even more negative impact in rural counties where vaccination rates are lowest and access to health care is more limited, Fischer added.

Fischer stressed the importance of getting vaccinated and, for those who already are vaccinated, receiving a booster shot. Anyone who received their second dose in July and earlier should be receiving their booster shots this month, preferably before traveling for Christmas, Fischer said. Anyone who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in early October or before is on schedule to receive a booster soon.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration extended emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to children ages 5 to 11 in late October, and Fischer recommends parents take advantage and get their kids vaccinated.

"Kids are playing an increasing role in transmission because many adults are vaccinated, and the kids are [mostly] not," Fischer said. "That makes me quite worried for gatherings with kids."

Both DSHS and Harris County Public Health are urging Texans to get vaccinated or receive a booster dose if they have not already done so. Those wishing to get a vaccine can find a provider close to them at Vaccines.gov.