Massachusetts Has First Coronavirus Omicron Variant Case: DPH

MASSACHUSETTS — The omicron variant of coronavirus has been confirmed in a Massachusetts resident, state health officials said Saturday afternoon.

The variant was found in a woman in her 20s from Middlesex County who had recently traveled out of the commonwealth, the state Department of Public Health (DPH) said in a news release. The woman, who was fully vaccinated, experienced "mild disease" and was not hospitalized, DPH said.

The variant was first identified in South Africa before Thanksgiving, but has since been confirmed in California and New York City. Health officials are still researching the new variant, but believe it may be more contagious than the predominant delta strain, and are still investigating how it interacts with current vaccines.

"While omciron is classified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization as a variant of concern, scientists are still working to determine how it may compare with the predominant delta variant in terms of transmissibility and disease severity," DPH said in a news release.

RELATED: 'Three Big Questions' About Omicron Variant

Coronavirus cases have risen sharply in Massachusetts in recent weeks, with the state posting the highest number of positive cases since January. In announcing the omicron discovery, DPH urged all state residents to get vaccinated, which is so far the best defense against severe disease and death.

The omicron variant was first confirmed on Nov. 24 after health officials in South Africa collected virus samples from people who were sick earlier in the month. Omicron is one of two variants along with delta classified as a "variants of concern." Find out more about omicron and its origins on the CDC website.

You can find coronavirus vaccine locations near you on the state Vaxfinder website.