Omicron has been identified in West Virginia now, the state’s top pandemic adviser announced today.
Dr. Clay Marsh said the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention CDC notified the state of a single case of omicron in West Virginia. “We know the omicron has been here and is now starting to grow in West Virginia as in other places,” he said.
State officials later specified that the first identified case is an unvaccinated Marion County resident.
He said the confirmation came through a virus surveillance system the CDC maintains through private labs. The confirmation of the different variations of covid-19 comes through genetic sequencing.
The confirmation was publicly announced during a regular pandemic briefing by the governor. So Gov. Jim Justice was learning the news too.
“It’s not good news, but we knew it was coming, did we not?” Justice said.
The governor, as has for months, advised state residents to seek vaccination or a booster to provide as much protection as possible.
State leaders have been assessing persistent levels of hospitalizations, an increasing transmission rate, people’s habits during cold weather and gatherings during holiday season.
The state Department of Health and Human Resources confirmed active cases of the virus were up more than 400 on Thursday from Wednesday. The case total is now 8,737.
Hospitalizations from covid-19 were at 623. Covid-19 patients in intensive care units were 196, and patients needing the aid of a ventilator to breathe were at 117.
Omicron, first identified in South Africa, now presents yet another threat.
“It’s a very critical time for West Virginia and our country,” Marsh said, alluding to a likely surge of the delta variant of covid-19.
“It is now time for all West Virginians to run to the fire, pull the rope in the same direction, get vaccinated if you haven’t yet, or get a booster.”
Omicron already had been identified in several surrounding areas, including Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Omicron is now believed to have been in that area for weeks.
Initial studies suggest omicron may be even more transmissible than previous versions of covid-19, but that it could result in milder symptoms.
The dominant strain in West Virginia remains delta, but that seems likely to change over the next weeks.
“It’s a really important time for all West Virginians to be thoughtful and careful,” Marsh said.