New York: Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Friday that New York has confirmed five cases of the COVID-19 Omicron type, bringing the total number of cases in the US to eight.

"Five cases of the omicron variant have been confirmed in New York State. To be clear, this is not a cause for concern. We knew this variant was on the way, and we have the power to stop it "In a tweet, Kathy Hochul remarked. "Get your immunisation. Please obtain your booster. Put on your mask "she stated. Other examples of the Omicron variant have been documented in Minnesota and Colorado, whereas the first case of the variant was discovered in California, in a person who had recently visited South Africa.

So far, eight cases of Omicron variant have been documented in the United States, with at least one, in Minnesota, including a person who had no recent international travel history, indicating that the strain is already circulating within the country.

On November 24, the World Health Organization (WHO) received the first report of the new potentially more contagious B.1.1.529 variety from South Africa, and the global organisation labelled it as a "Variant of Concern," naming it "Omicron."

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