Pima County health officials are preparing for the arrival of the omicron variant to arrive in Arizona. But right now, they say, the focus should be on the delta virus, which accounts for 99% of the cases here.
The virus has arrived in the United States in California carried by a man who had recently traveled to South Africa, which reported the first known cases. He was vaccinated and his symptoms were mild, according to health officials.
Pima County Health Director Dr. Theresa Cullen says as far as they know, the variant has not come to Arizona yet but they are sequencing about 15% of the PCR tests, which should catch it quickly when it does arrive
There is plenty science doesn’t know about the new variant such as its transmissibility, how sick patients might get and whether the vaccines will work against it.