5th Omicron COVID-19 Case Reported In GA As State Remains Poised To Respond

GEORGIA — As omicron coronavirus variant cases spread globally, only the fifth case was identified in Georgia as state health officials remain poised.

For now, Georgia and other southeastern states have yet to see any significant reporting of patients testing positive with this new strain of the virus. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than 0.1 percent of cases reported in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, Mississippi, Kentucky and Florida stem from the omicron variant.

Five Georgia cases caused by the omicron variant have been reported to date, and one of those Georgia cases is quarantined in New Jersey, near what appears to be an epicenter of the majority of U.S. cases — New York.

European Union nations anticipate that omicron will be the dominant coronavirus variant among the 27 member countries by the middle of next month, officials said.

In Georgia, the state’s Department of Public Health continues its drumbeat to encourage vaccinations and boosters, reminding the public that most people age 5 and older are eligible for the vaccine and boosters are available for individuals as young as 16 who have gone more than six months since initially being fully vaccinated.

“Get vaccinated now,” public health department spokeswoman Nancy Nydam said earlier this month as the first omicron cases reached the U.S.

CDC officials encourage the public to continue to practice strategies that prevent the spread, including wearing a mask in closed public spaces, social distancing and handwashing. The agency also recommends getting vaccinations and boosters for those eligible.

— The Associated Press contributed to this story.