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Officials have been warning us about the new, contagious COVID-19 Omicron variant and it has made its way to our area. Gov. Larry Hogan confirmed today (Dec. 3) that 3 cases of it have been confirmed in the Baltimore area.
"Thanks to our aggressive surveillance system, we have quickly identified the first cases of the Omicron variant in Maryland. We urge Marylanders to continue taking precautions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. Getting a vaccine or a booster shot is the single most important thing that you can do to protect yourself and those around you. This is a rapidly evolving situation, and we will continue to keep Marylanders updated as new information becomes available," he said in a statement.
Two of the individuals who tested positive for the variant live in the same household. The first, who is vaccinated, recently returned from a trip to South Africa. Their housemate who also tested positive is not vaccinated. Information on the third person has not been released at the time of publication. None of the individuals have been hospitalized.
The World Health Organization first recognized the Omicron variant on Nov. 26 and say it was first reported on Nov. 24 in South Africa.
Source: FOX45