First case of the COVID-19 omicron variant confirmed in Stanislaus County
Stanislaus County public health announced Wednesday afternoon that it has confirmed its first case of the COVID-19 omicron variant in an adult female.
The woman had a previous COVID-19 infection and got fully vaccinated more than six months ago, according to a news release.
“As (county) public health continues to learn more about this rapidly spreading variant, community members are reminded to get vaccinated, get their booster shots, and take every precaution to prevent the spread,” the news release said. “Community members should get their booster shots at least six months after completing the full series of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and at least two months after receiving the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.”
The news release added that a full vaccination and a booster shot when eligible provides the strongest protection against the highly contagious omicron strain. “This is especially important for children and adults who have chronic conditions that put them at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease,” the county advised.
The report of Stanislaus County’s first case comes a day after San Joaquin County confirmed two cases of the COVID-19 omicron variant, which is fast becoming the dominant strain of coronavirus that is spreading.
Variants of COVID-19, such as delta and omicron, are typically identified when state labs conduct genomic sequencing on test samples submitted by counties.
The two individuals in San Joaquin County were fully vaccinated, but they had not received booster shots. Health officials in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties thought it was a matter of time before omicron was confirmed in their jurisdictions.
“That’s why we continue to encourage anyone who’s eligible to get vaccinated and get a booster — especially as people consider gathering for New Year’s,” said Dr. Maggie Park, who serves as public health officer for San Joaquin County.
The omicron strain has spread rapidly internationally since it was first identified in South Africa in November.
According to the Stanislaus County news release, county health officials are concerned the variant’s ability to spread quickly could jeopardize hospital capacity in a short period of time. The county’s public health officer promised to keep assessing the situation with omicron.
As the omicron variant spreads, the California Department of Public Health reported Wednesday the state was averaging 10,280 new cases of COVID-19 and 42 deaths every day. Test positivity statewide has risen to 11.2 percent.
Stanislaus County reported 114 new coronavirus cases in the latest update. As of Tuesday, less than 100 patients infected with COVID-19 were hospitalized in the county. They included 18 patients struggling with COVID in intensive care units.
The state is requiring California residents to wear masks in indoor public places in a requirement that runs through Jan. 15.
In announcing the first omicron case, Stanislaus County advised residents to comply with the face mask requirement, regardless of their vaccination status, as an extra layer of protection.
People who have traveled during the holidays or have symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested, the news release said.
Those who test positive are expected to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention isolation and quarantine guidelines.
There are other ways to keep from catching the omicron variant or other strains of COVID-19, such as washing hands regularly with soap and water or using hand sanitizer. People should stay home when they are sick and distance themselves from others.
The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency has information about COVID vaccine and testing at www.schsa.org.
This story was originally published December 29, 2021 at 4:54 PM.