-
The first U.S. omicron case was identified Wednesday – about a week after its discovery in South Africa. While there are concerns about the variant’s transmissibility, the number of mutations it possesses make it easier to detect than other strains.
-
The case was detected in a St. Louis resident who had recently traveled within the United States, according to the St. Louis Department of Health.
-
COVID-19 cases rose 20%, hospitalizations 30% since the end of October
-
The World Health Organization deemed it a variant of concern, and the U.S. is banning travel from parts of Africa where it's spreading. Here's what scientists know and what they're trying to learn.