The third confirmed U.S. case of the newly-discovered Omicron variant was detected in a Colorado resident, state health officials said Thursday.
The latest: In addition to Colorado, the variant has been confirmed in California, and Minnesota.
- In Minnesota, the variant was found in a vaccinated resident who recently traveled to New York City, Axios' Torey Van Oot writes.
- In California, the variant was detected in a traveler returning from South Africa who was fully vaccinated and has mild symptoms, according to the CDC.
- Omicron cases have also been confirmed across Europe, Canada, Israel, Hong Kong and Australia, among other countries, since the variant was first identified by scientists in South Africa last month.
What we know: The Colorado case was found in Arapahoe County woman who traveled throughout southern Africa and returned late last week, per Axios' John Frank.
- The woman was vaccinated but had not received a booster shot. She also wore a mask in her travels, officials said. She is experiencing mild systems and is quarantining.
- She developed symptoms after returning home and no cases of community transmission are anticipated.
What they're saying: "This was expected news," Gov. Jared Polis said in a briefing Thursday....
- "Any variant that is so prevalent in the world as the omicron variant is, we knew it wasn't a matter of if, it was a matter of when it was identified in Colorado."