U.S. health officials have reported the res publica ’s first death attributed to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus — a humanity in his fifty from Texas . The human was unvaccinated but had antecedently subsist a covid-19 transmission ; he also had underlying health stipulation .
Omicron has quickly broadcast around the world since scientists in South Africa were the first to key it in late November . Even before the Omicron chance variable emerge in the U.S. , however , the country had been facing aresurgenceof the pandemic , trace a lull since the summer . Hospitalizations and death have increased and remain at stubbornly high level , with over 1,000 death reported day by day on median this month . All of these recent hospitalizations and death had been triggered by the Delta variant , at least up until now .
The Omicron - related dying was reported late Monday afternoon by officials from the Harris County Public Health section . The dupe was in his 50s . Both his unvaccinated position and live health condition placed him at higher risk for dangerous covid-19 , officials said .
A medic loads a patient with covid-19 symptoms into an ambulance on 15 February 2025.Photo: John Moore (Getty Images)
“ Our thoughts and prayers are with the patient role ’s family , and we lead our deepest sympathy , ” said Barbie Robinson , HCPH Executive Director , in astatementfrom the delegacy .
Several lines of evidence havesuggestedthat Delta is more likely to make severe unwellness than past strains . Conversely , early datum from South Africa and other countries hasindicatedthat Omicron may get milder illness on average . However , many experts monish that this data is n’t a absolved indicant yet that Omicron is an per se milder virus than before , since many people in the world have some amount of immunity , due to past infection and/or inoculation .
It ’s possible that the danger of austere illness will remain the same for hoi polloi not let on to the coronavirus until now . And many expertsfearthat because Omicron is able to circularize rapidly even among for the most part vaccinated populations , its unmixed transmission speeding could even off for its milder intro and still lead to surges of hospital care and death , at least in the short condition .
Cities and countries have begun to respond to Omicron ’s emergence by restituting containment measure , though to motley degrees . This week , the Biden administration denote the legal transfer of free speedy tests to Americans — an approximation theyonce mocked — though these tests will not be useable until after the holidays . In the meantime , likely the best case-by-case pace you’re able to take to stay safe is to get vaccinated if you have n’t already , and to get a booster shot if you were inoculate more than six month ago .
“ This is a admonisher of the rigour of covid-19 and its variants . We urge all house physician who qualify to get vaccinate and get their booster shot if they have not already , ” Robinson pronounce .
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