Omicron mostly mild so far, CDC chief says
Nearly every case of the omicron variant found in the U.S. has been mild, according to the chief of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
More than 40 infections have been identified, and more than 75% of those had been previously vaccinated, according to Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC.
“What we generally know is the more mutations a variant has, the higher level you need your immunity to be. … We want to make sure we bolster everybody’s immunity,” Walensky told Associated Press in an interview Wednesday. “And that’s really what motivated the decision to expand our guidance,” Walensky said, referencing the recent approval of boosters for all adults.
Reported symptoms have remained mostly cough, congestion and fatigue. One person has been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported, CDC officials reported.
Latest COVID-19 data
South Carolina health officials reported 1,163 total cases of COVID-19 Dec. 9, with 664 confirmed. A total of 13 new deaths, with 12 confirmed, were also reported.
With 16,719 tests reported Thursday, 6.8% were confirmed positive.
Percentage of S.C. residents age 12+ with at least one vaccine: 63.7%
Percentage of of S.C. residents age 12+ who have completed vaccination: 55.4%
Percentage of S.C. residents age 5-11 with at least one vaccine: 8.8%
Percentage of S.C. residents age 5-11 who have completed vaccination: 3.6%
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