1st Case Of Omicron Coronavirus Variant Found On LI: Hochul

LONG ISLAND, NY —The first case of the omicron COVID-19 variant has been identified on Long Island, Governor Kathy Hochul said

Hochul, along with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday eveningthat four city patients had been confirmed with the variant.

One case was found on Long Island in Suffolk County, they said. The Long Island case involved a woman, 67, who was vaccinated, Hochul said.

Additionally, one case was found in Brooklyn, two in Queens, and another in an unidentified borough, they said.

"No cause for alarm," Hochul said. "We just want to make sure that the public is aware of information when we receive it."

Little is known about the omicron variant, which was first found in South Africa last week. Experts found the variant had mutations that could make it highly transmissible, but they still don't know whether it causes more or less severe infections. They also don't know how effective the COVID-19 vaccines are against it.

Hochul said based on the information known as of Thursday that the New York cases appeared to be mild. But she said it's still early and officials only knew the vaccination status of one patient.

Hochul also stressed that New Yorkers shouldn't panic. She said the situation and tools available are far better than the first wave of COVID-19.

"We're just trying to let people know: we've got this," she said. "Have confidence in what we're able to do because it's a different world right now."

The first omicron case in the country was confirmed Wednesday in California. Earlier Thursday, officials said the second case — in Minnesota — was found in a man who had recently been at an anime convention at the Javits Center in Manhattan.

Omicron's confirmed arrival in New York comes a day before a state of emergency goes into place in the state to help hospitals cope with rising numbers and the threat of the new variant. It gives overstretched medical centers the ability to cancel scheduled surgeries, and to send supplies and personnel where needed.

On Thursday, Hochul also continued to encourage New Yorkers to get their vaccine and booster shot. Hochul also announced New York State has ordered one million tests that will be distributed to local health departments, plans to launch 40 new vaccination pop-up sites by the end of the year, and new marketing efforts to promote boosters and vaccines.

Of the new variant, she said: "We do anticipate there'll be more cases, but to the extent that they are mild, we'll address them. . .Again, it was foreseen ever since it was first reported out of South Africa that we knew it would come to New York State at some point. And I want all New Yorkers to know that their state government, in collaboration with our local governments, our cities and our counties, are prepared for this."

With reporting by Adam Nichols and Matt Troutman.