Omicron cases detected in December considered mild, CDC reports

Twenty-two states documented at least one COVID-19 case associated with the omicron variant during the first eight days of December, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday.

Nearly all of the 43 cases reported in December were considered mild, and the CDC confirmed one hospitalization and no deaths, The Hill reported.

While the U.S. confirmed its first case of omicron in California last week, the CDC said at least one patient who traveled internationally developed symptoms on Nov. 15, indicating that the variant was likely in the U.S. longer than was initially thought.

Similar phenomena have occurred around the world as governments struggle to keep up with the new strain. Although Peru has yet to confirm an omicron variant case, a Japanese traveler returning home from Peru tested positive for the variant.

Almost 80 percent of patients that tested positive with an omicron strain were reportedly fully vaccinated and 14 percent had received an additional or booster dose. One-third of those infected had traveled internationally within 14 days of developing symptoms or testing positive.

Most of the infected individuals ranged from 18 to 39-years-old.

CDC researchers were quick to warn that mild symptoms did not mean that governments should let their guard down, noting that “even if most infections are mild, a highly transmissible variant could result in enough cases to overwhelm health systems.”

The delta variant is still considered the most prevalent strain in the U.S., accounting for 99.9 percent of reported cases last week. 

In its report, the CDC also called for the U.S. to continue using prevention strategies ranging from vaccinations, masking, improved ventilation, testing, quarantine and isolation to curb the spread of COVID-19.