The Louisiana Department of Health Sunday announced testing confirmed the first case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the state.
That word came as the LDH also confirmed seven more cases of COVID on a Norwegian Cruise Lines cruise ship that arrived in New Orleans Sunday.
"This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases identified among the passengers and crew members to 17," according to a news release.
The cases include "1 probable case of Omicron."
LDH says that case has been identified among the crew.
"The crew member is not a Louisiana resident and did not leave the ship."
Officials from federal, state and local agencies are addressing the outbreak on the ship.
"Governor John Bel Edwards, the Louisiana Department of Health, the City of New Orleans and the Port of New Orleans are aware and working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement existing COVID-19 agreements and protocols with the cruise line."
The ship was scheduled to leave on another trip Sunday night.