Omicron Makes Up 13% Of NJ And NY COVID-19 Cases: CDC

NEW JERSEY — The Garden State is one of two states in the nation with the highest spread of the omicron coronavirus variant in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as officials now estimate the highly contagious variant represents 13 percent of COVID-19 cases in New York and New Jersey.

The delta variant remains much more prevalent across the county, but cases involving the omicron variant have been trending upward nationwide in recent weeks, officials said. In fact, while the omicron variant only makes up about 3 percent of cases in the rest of the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci has stated that the statistic may change soon.

"It is going to be dominant in the United States, given its doubling time," he said.

But there's a potential silver lining: Rochelle Walensky, who heads the CDC, said Tuesday on the "Today Show" that increasingly it appears the omicron variant causes less-severe cases. Still, she said, there's reason for concern.

"You still have a lot of people who are getting sick," she said, adding some of the most vulnerable people could experience severe COVID-related illness or death.

Gov. Phil Murphy has noted that the omicron variant continues to spread in New Jersey, with two confirmed cases and several more suspected cases in the state.

The New Jersey Department of Health identified its first coronavirus omicron variant case on Dec. 3 in a traveler to the state. The individual, an adult female, who is a fully vaccinated Georgia resident, had recently traveled to South Africa, officials said. Read More: 1st Omicron COVID Variant Case Confirmed In New Jersey

The second case was reported in a Monmouth County man who attended the Anime NYC convention at the Javits Center in November and became ill on Nov. 24, said the New Jersey Department of Health in a statement. The man experienced mild illness, did not have to be hospitalized and has since recovered.

"Our expectation is that we have individuals in New Jersey who attended the convention and may potentially be at risk," New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said last week. "I urge anyone who attended to get tested as soon as possible to stop potential spread of this variant and protect themselves, their families and communities."

State health officials suspect other omicron cases in the state and lab tests are pending.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday that a "holiday surge" had started as it relates to new COVID-19 cases at a time when CDC officials expect that new cases involving the omicron variant are expected to pick up in coming weeks. New York started a statewide mask mandate as concerns over new cases continue.

New Jersey lifted its mask mandate on May 28 for New Jersey residents and visitors in certain indoor areas. However, with COVID-19 cases climbing back up across the state and throughout local schools, the question of whether the mandate returns looms.

"Every option is on the table at the moment," Murphy said during a news conference Monday in regard to mandating indoor masks again.

Omicron cases have been detected in 35 states, which Walensky said indicates that it is quickly becoming the predominant strain as more cases emerge.