Ómicron: New York confirms 5 cases of the new variant of the coronavirus

The state of New York confirmed the presence of five cases of the omicron variant of coronavirusGovernor Kathy Hochul announced this Thursday, bringing the number of detected cases of the new strain in the United States to eight.

“The state of New York has confirmed five cases of the omicron variant”, Hochul said via Twitter in a message aimed at reassuring the residents of the fourth most populous state in the country.

Let me be clear: This is not cause for alarm. We knew this variant was coming and we have the tools to stop its advance.“Added the governor.

“Get your shot, get your booster. Use a mask ”, he warned.

At the moment there is no clarity on whether the new cases are located within, or near, the city of New York – the most populated metropolitan area in the country – and not if the cases were detected in people who recently returned from trips abroad.

So far there are eight confirmed cases in USA, where at least one, in Minnesota, involves a person with no recent international travel records, indicating that the omicron strain would already circulate in the country.

The figures presented by the governor Hochul are given after President Joe’s announcement Biden to strengthen government measures against covid-19 during the winter.

The new measures include the obligatory nature of a negative test in the last 24 hours for travelers from abroad, as well as an extension until mid-March of the measure for the use of face masks in public transport.

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