Los Angeles County reports seventh Omicron variant case – CBS Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – The Los Angeles Department of Public Health reported the discovery of a seventh positive case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on Saturday.

They said the person was fully vaccinated and had recently traveled the country before experiencing mild symptoms. This person is self-isolating now.

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Close contacts inside and outside Los Angeles County have been identified by public health and COVID-19 tests have been administered. While some are still awaiting their results, most of the tests have come back negative.

Barbara Ferrer, director of public health, issued a statement on the recent discovery:

“This last case of Omicron variant in Los Angeles County emphasizes how essential safety precautions are while traveling. … There is every indication that among people who have been fully vaccinated, the severity of the disease in the event of infection with Omicron is gentle, reminding us that all eligible residents must be vaccinated or vaccinated urgently. Vaccines are likely to provide much needed protection against serious illnesses caused by Omicron and are already known to provide protection against infections and illnesses associated with the Delta variant which continues to dominate the county. “

Early Saturday, Ferrer reminded residents that Los Angeles County is back in the “high transmission” level.

The first case of Omicron, discovered shortly before Thanksgiving, triggered a series of international travel closures – especially those in Africa, where the first cases were reported.

The Department of Public Health also reported that one of the cases – the fifth – was the result of local transmission as opposed to travel like the other cases.

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Omicron was first found in North America on November 29 and was located in California a few days later.

the first case in Los Angeles County was identified on December 2, and additional cases have been filed over the past week.

The Omicron variant has been identified as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization and the CDC. However, it remains unclear whether the variant is more easily transmitted or can cause more serious disease. The previously identified Delta variant – blamed for the most recent increase in cases nationwide – remains the dominant mutation in circulation, accounting for more than 99% of all COVID specimens that have undergone genetic testing in the county, Ferrer said this week.

According to the most recent figures, 83% of people in the county aged 12 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 75% are fully immunized. Of all eligible residents aged 5 years and older, 77% have received at least one dose and 69% are fully immunized.

Of the more than 6.15 million fully vaccinated people in the county, 84,931 have tested positive, or about 1.38%. A total of 2,798 vaccinated people were hospitalized, for a rate of 0.046%, and 537 died, for a rate of 0.009%.

It comes amid news of the daily increase in the number of COVID-19 in LA County, with more than 700 people hospitalized because of the virus on Saturday.

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The count of the seven positive Omicron cases does not include the recent positive case found in Long Beach County, bringing that total number in the immediate area around Los Angeles County to eight.