The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Wednesday that the Omicron variant has been detected in California.
The CDC said in a statement that the California and San Francisco Departments of Public Health confirmed the case of COVID-19 among an individual in California.
“The individual was a traveler who returned from South Africa on November 22, 2021. The individual had mild symptoms that are improving, is self-quarantining, and has been since testing positive. All close contacts have been contacted and have tested negative,” the CDC statement read.
On November 26, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified a new variant, B.1.1.529, as a variant of concern and named it Omicron.
Health officials are urging persons to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or get a booster if they’re eligible.