Florida veterans’ hospital confirms state’s first omicron COVID-19 case

TAMPA, Fla. — A veterans’ hospital in Tampa said it has detected the first case of the omicron COVID-19 variant in Florida.

Officials from the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital said the patient is experiencing mild symptoms and had recently returned from international travel.

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“Our providers were able to quickly detect, test, confirm and add this data to our developing understanding of this strain,” a spokesperson for the hospital said.

The hospital said it is critical to get vaccinated against the virus as soon as possible, as the new variant begins to spread.

READ: Omicron concerns drive Central Florida residents to get COVID-19 vaccine boosters

“While no vaccine is 100% effective in preventing illness, the COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S. provide excellent protection against the COVID-19 variants that have caused surges in the United States so far and are particularly effective in preventing severe illness or death from COVID-19,” the spokesperson said.

According to the CDC, the omicron variant has been detected in 17 states so far, not including Florida.

READ: Crowds continue to gather in Florida as health officials keep watch for COVID-19 omicron variant

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Omicron COVID-19 variant On Nov. 26, the World Health Organization classified a new variant, B.1.1.529, as a “variant of concern” and named it omicron. (WFTV.com News Staff)

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