Colorado confirms omicron case in a travel resident from southern Africa: Coronavirus Update: NPR

Travelers wear face masks at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on Tuesday as concern grows worldwide about omicrons, the latest coronavirus variant. Minnesota confirmed its second US omicron case on Thursday and Colorado on Tuesday.

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Travelers wear face masks at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on Tuesday as concern grows worldwide about omicrons, the latest coronavirus variant. Minnesota confirmed its second US omicron case on Thursday and Colorado on Tuesday.

Robyn Beck / AFP via Getty Images

Colorado health officials say the state’s first case of the omicron variant of the coronavirus has been detected, marking the third confirmed case in the US after two confirmed cases in California and Minnesota.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced the new variant on Thursday, a day after First US case has been announced.

The department said the case involved an adult woman from Arapahoe County who had recently traveled to multiple countries in southern Africa. According to officials, the woman tested positive a day after returning to Colorado.

The woman is experiencing mild symptoms and is currently isolated at her home.

The woman is believed to have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 but has not been given a booster shot. Those in close contact with the woman have been ordered to quarantine, health officials said. So far, there have been no positive results.

Minnesota reports an omicron case in a resident who attended a conference in New York City

Earlier on Thursday, Minnesota officials also identified an omicron COVID-19 case in that state, marking the second confirmed case of the highly-transmissible variant in the US in days to come.

Laboratory testing determined the case to occur in a Hennepin County resident who had recently returned from New York City, the Minnesota Department of Health announced Thursday.

“This news is disturbing, but it is not a surprise,” Governor Tim Walz said in a statement. “We know that this virus is highly contagious and moves quickly around the world. Minnesotans know what to do to keep each other safe right now – get vaccinated, tested, worn. Indoor masks and booster injections.”

Officials said the individual is an adult male who was vaccinated and tested for coronavirus on November 24 after developing mild symptoms (which have since resolved) on November 22.

The individual traveled to New York City and attended the Anime NYC conference at the Javits Center from November 19 to 21, officials said, adding that Minnesota epidemiologists will continue to investigate the incident in cooperation with the City of New York and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said in statement its own that the convention required all attendees to be vaccinated and also to wear a mask.

“We should assume there is community spread of this variation in our city,” de Blasio said, adding that local officials are working closely with the organizers. event, state and CDC.

Both he and New York Governor Kathy Hochul encouraged those who were at the Javits Center on convention days to check in.

Hochul said at a meeting that although there are currently no confirmed cases in New York, officials have been preparing for this variant to find its way into the state and prepare for the possibility that someone will soon test positive.

She urged New Yorkers to get vaccinated and boosted, stressing that “we are defenseless against this variant.”

Minnesota health department officials say their surveillance program is one of the strongest in the nation, so it’s likely Minnesota will be one of the first states to find this variation.

Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said the finding further underscores the importance of taking steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the state. Those include immunizations and boosters if eligible, wearing a properly-fitted mask in indoor and crowded outdoor public settings, testing if you have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19 and wash your hands often.

Minnesota’s announcement comes a day after California reported its first case of omicrons in the US, in an individual who recently returned from South Africa.

This story originally appeared on NS Morning version live blogs.