The first case in the United States of the new Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, has been detected in San Francisco, local and national health officials announced December 1.
The individual, who recently arrived from South Africa, has mild symptoms and is recovering. Speaking at a Wednesday press briefing with Mayor London Breed on the steps of City Hall, San Francisco Health Director Dr.
Grant Colfax and Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip stressed there is much that is not known about the new variant, including whether it is more easily transmitted, whether it causes more severe or milder disease, and whether it can evade immunity from vaccination or prior infection.