Las Vegas, NV (KXNT) - The Southern Nevada Health District on Tuesday confirmed the state’s first case of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant.
The individual who tested positive is a fully-vaccinated female in her mid-20s. She has not received a booster dose of vaccine and the case is still being investigated at this time.
“We knew that it was only a matter of time that we would identify the Omicron variant in Southern Nevada,” said Dr. Fermin Leguen, District Health Officer for the Southern Nevada Health District. “People can protect themselves from all variants of the COVID-19 virus by getting fully vaccinated and getting a booster when they are eligible, wearing a mask in public indoor settings, regardless of their vaccination status, and staying home and getting tested if they are sick.”
“The Omicron variant in Nevada is a reminder to all those who have not completed their COVID-19 vaccination series, that vaccination can protect against serious illness,” said Nevada State Epidemiologist Melissa Peek-Bullock. “As the weather gets cold and we celebrate the holidays with family and friends it is imperative that we all continue to take this virus seriously and maintain the mitigation measures that we know work.”
Although the Omicron variant has been identified more widely in the United States, the Delta variant remains the dominant variant circulating in the United States and Clark County. Additional information about the Omicron variant is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website Omicron Variant: What You Need To Know.