Omicron Variant Pops Up in County

Twelve people in Alameda County are among those contracting the latest version of the coronavirus, local health officials said last Friday in a statement.

Five of the cases are linked to a November 27 wedding in Wisconsin, which one of these individuals attended upon return from international travel. A State lab used genomic sequencing to identify the five infected with the COVID-19 Omicron variant, which is now being detected around the country and the world. Genomic sequencing data is not yet available for all 12 cases.

“These individuals are between the ages of 18-49. One individual is a resident of the City of Berkeley and the remaining 11 are residents of Alameda County,” a Public Health Department spokesperson wrote. “All 12 individuals were vaccinated, and most had received boosters. They are mildly symptomatic. No one has been hospitalized.”

Omicron is the latest variant of COVID-19 to spread around the world. The World Health Organization reported that the SARS-CoV-2 originated and was detected first in South Africa in late November 2021. There is an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, whereas the Delta variant was found to have less of an impact on a person who already contracted the virus, a Public Health spokesperson noted.

While the number of people sick from this new variant is low, health officials continue to be vigilant and are monitoring evidence of this variant’s transmissibility and the severity of illness resulting from infection. 

“We don’t yet know how Omicron will impact a highly vaccinated region like the Bay Area,” according to the Public Health statement. “We remind residents that vaccination continues to provide the best protection against severe illness from COVID-19 that could result in hospitalization and death.”

Residents are asked to continue their social distance themselves, and other strategies known to work to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They are also asked to get vaccinated and boosted if eligible; wear a mask indoors in public places; and avoid crowded and poorly ventilated indoor settings.

BY THE NUMBERS:

Vaccine Distributed:

State – 59,750,037

Alameda County – 2,878,741

Castro Valley – 54,806

San Leandro – 74,898

Confirmed Cases:

State - 4,845,295

Alameda County – 123,267

Castro Valley – 3,902

San Leandro – 7,585

Deaths:

State – 74,209

Alameda County – 1,513

as of December 6, 2021