The US recorded its first confirmed case of the omicron variant Wednesday - in a vaccinated traveller who returned to California after a trip to South Africa - as scientists around the world race to establish whether the new, mutant version of the coronavirus is more dangerous than previous ones. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the United States' top infectious-disease expert, announced the finding at the White House. The patient, who agreed to remain in quarantine, was identified only as being between 18 and 49.California Gov. "This particular case shows the system working as it was designed to work - an individual with travel history from South Africa, an astute laboratory and quick prioritisation of the specimen for sequencing, and close coordination with public health officials. And German Chancellor-designate Olaf Scholz said he will back a proposal to require everyone to get vaccinated.

Source: Economic Times December 02, 2021 17:06 UTC