Fort Bend County Health & Human Services confirmed three cases of the variant. All cases were vaccinated with two doses, did not report receiving a booster dose, had mild symptoms and denied travel 14 days before symptom onset, according to a Dec. 9 news release.
“We have been aware throughout the pandemic that mutations of the original SARS CoV–2 virus would occur,” said Dr. Jacquelyn Minter, director and health authority for Fort Bend County Health & Human Services, in the news release. “While the full impact of omicron is not currently known, we do already know how to reduce the spread of any form of SARS CoV-2. We can protect ourselves and those at highest risk by getting vaccinated, including with boosters, staying away from others when we are ill, getting tested when appropriate, and wearing face coverings indoors or at crowded events with close contact.”
The new variant comes as Fort Bend County reported 68 new COVID-19 cases on Dec. 8, down from the 615 new cases reported Nov. 29.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the omicron variant was first detected in specimens collected on Nov.11 in Botswana and on Nov. 14 in South Africa. On Nov. 26, the World Health Organization classified the omicron variant as a variant of concern.
