TAMPA, FLA. (WSVN) - The Florida Department of Health has confirmed the state’s first case of the omicron variant of COVID-19, as well as a presumptive positive case that was reported earlier by a Tampa Bay hospital.
Health officials said on Tuesday that Florida’s first official confirmed case of the new variant is in St. Lucie County, north of Palm Beach County.
It remains unclear whether or not the person had been vaccinated or traveled recently.
The latest development comes hours after a spokesperson for James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa said they are treating a patient with the new variant in a statement issued to local station WFLA.
Hospital officials said the patient had recently returned from international travel and is experiencing mild symptoms.
Officials with the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County initially said they had not received any notice about an omicron case, but in a tweet posted Tuesday evening, they said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the presumed positive case.
The omicron variant, also known as B.1.1.529, was first discovered in South Africa.
“What we have found is that the omicron variant is doubling faster than any of the three previous waves,” said South African epidemiologist Salim Abdool Karim.
It has been detected in over a dozen states, including Texas, New York and California.
Anyone with questions and concerns about the coronavirus can call the Florida Department of Health’s 24-hour hotline at 1-866-779-6121.
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