COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Health is reporting that the first two cases of the Omicron variant has been confirmed in Ohio by The Ohio State University Laboratory.
The Omicron variant was detected in two men in central Ohio, the release says.
Both of the men got their initial COVID-19 vaccine series more than six months ago. They have not yet gotten the booster shot, the release says.
“We have known that it would only be a matter of time until a case of Omicron was detected in Ohio. The CDC believes that this variant has likely been circulating in the U.S. since November,” Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff said in a news release. “This variant’s arrival and the continued impact of the Delta variant underscore the importance of our best prevention tool, which is choosing to be vaccinated. COVID-19 (coronavirus) vaccines, coupled with prevention measures, provide the greatest protection from severe illness resulting in hospitalization or death. If you have not yet been vaccinated, or are eligible for a booster dose, now is the time to go and get your shot.”
Officials say the men are experiencing mild symptoms and are not hospitalized at this time. The men have not traveled internationally, the release says.
The men’s ages and where they live are not being released at this time to protect their privacy, but they have been contacted for case investigation and contact tracing, the release says.
“While the arrival of Omicron in Ohio is noteworthy, we must not lose sight of the fact that the Delta variant continues to drive cases and hospitalizations very high,” Vanderhoff said. “As of yesterday, there were 4,422 patients in the hospital with COVID-19, a high that matches what we experienced in January of 2021 during last winter’s surge. The hospitalizations in this Delta surge are largely being driven by unvaccinated Ohioans. Severe illness with COVID-19 is largely preventable thanks to vaccines.”
The state of Ohio reported 8,072 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday. The 21-day average is 6,541.
The health department says if anyone tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of the variant they have, isolation and quarantine are the key factors to prevent further spread of the virus, the release says.
“If you are sick with symptoms of COVID-19, you should immediately get tested,” Vanderhoff said. “Even if you are vaccinated, it is important to follow prevention measures to protect yourself and others and to minimize the spread of the virus.”