News

First case of COVID-19 omicron variant confirmed in Kentucky


Kentucky health officials have confirmed the first case of the omicron variant in the commonwealth.Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed the news in a tweet Friday evening, but did not elaborate further.The governor said he will give more information during a news conference at 1 p.m. Saturday. He will be joined by Dr. Steven Stack.ABOVE VIDEO: CDC vaccine advisers have cast a game-changing vote to recommend Pfizer and Moderna vaccines over Johnson and Johnson's"As expected, Kentucky has confirmed its first case of the omicron variant. Gov. Beshear and Dr. Stack will update the commonwealth at 1 p.m. EST Saturday, Dec. 18," the governor tweeted, providing few details. Kentucky has until now not seen any cases of the omicron variant. The surge in COVID-19 has been attributed to the delta variant that hit the state in the summer.Across the river, Ohio confirmed its first two cases of the variant last week.The omicron variant is offering more hints about what it may have in store as it spreads around the globe: A highly transmissible virus that may cause less severe disease, and one that can be slowed — but not stopped — by today’s vaccines.“Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant. We are concerned that people are dismissing omicron as mild,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “Surely we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril.”Tedros emphasized that vaccines were just one tool — if a major one — to fight the pandemic, along with measures like mask-wearing, better indoor ventilation, social distancing and hand washing.

Kentucky health officials have confirmed the first case of the omicron variant in the commonwealth.

Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed the news in a tweet Friday evening, but did not elaborate further.

The governor said he will give more information during a news conference at 1 p.m. Saturday. He will be joined by Dr. Steven Stack.

ABOVE VIDEO: CDC vaccine advisers have cast a game-changing vote to recommend Pfizer and Moderna vaccines over Johnson and Johnson's

"As expected, Kentucky has confirmed its first case of the omicron variant. Gov. Beshear and Dr. Stack will update the commonwealth at 1 p.m. EST Saturday, Dec. 18," the governor tweeted, providing few details.

Kentucky has until now not seen any cases of the omicron variant. The surge in COVID-19 has been attributed to the delta variant that hit the state in the summer.

Across the river, Ohio confirmed its first two cases of the variant last week.

The omicron variant is offering more hints about what it may have in store as it spreads around the globe: A highly transmissible virus that may cause less severe disease, and one that can be slowed — but not stopped — by today’s vaccines.

“Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant. We are concerned that people are dismissing omicron as mild,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “Surely we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril.”

Tedros emphasized that vaccines were just one tool — if a major one — to fight the pandemic, along with measures like mask-wearing, better indoor ventilation, social distancing and hand washing.


Source link

Show More

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button