A person in California became the first in the US to have an identified case of the Covid-19 omicron variant, the White House announced Wednesday as scientists continue to study the risks posed by the new strain of the virus. The Biden administration moved late last month to restrict travel from Southern Africa where the variant was first identified and had been widespread. Clusters of cases have also been identified in about two dozen other nations. “This is the first case of Covid-19 caused by the omicron variant detected in the United States,” Dr Anthony Fauci said at the White House. Also read: Covaxin likely to be effective against Omicron variant, too: ICMR officialThe announcement of the first US case comes before President Joe Biden plans to outline his strategy on Thursday to combat the virus over the winter.

Source: The Hindu December 02, 2021 08:16 UTC