Omicron Variant Found In Philadelphia Resident

PHILADELPHIA — The omicron variant of the coronavirus has been found in Philadelphia, health officials said Friday.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health said a man in his 30s from Northwest Philadelphia tested positive for the new variant.

Health officials in the city are working to get more details on the case and are coordinating with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cases of the new variant have also been found in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota and New York. Some basic information on these cases has been published, and thus far all have reported mild symptoms, the health department said in its announcement.

At this time, the Health Department is issuing a warning to all Philadelphians to take precautions, given the possibility that this new variant may be more transmissible. This includes seriously reconsidering plans for indoor holiday gatherings and activities.

"It is not unexpected that we would see Omicron here in Philadelphia," Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole said. "Just because there is a case of this new variant here does not mean it’s too late to take precautions. There are things that you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones. This is not like when we first saw COVID cases. We know what works, and we’ve been doing a great job doing those things."

Bettigole said the best way to protect against this new variant is to get vaccinated, and urged residents to get the doses they need — whether first, second, or booster doses — as soon as possible.

Visit the federal vaccination finder website here or the city's vaccination finder here to see where and when vaccinations are available close by.

As of Friday, city data shows 933,007 people ages 12 and older have been fully vaccinated in Philadelphia, and 1,163,845 Philadelphians 12 and older have at least one dose of vaccine. Those figures represent 69.2 percent of people 12 and older, and 86.8 percent of people 12 and older, respectively.

For children 5 to 11 in Philadelphia, 13,332 — or 11.5 percent — have received at least one dose of the vaccine, city data shows.

The Department of Health Thursday reported 242 patients with COVID-19 are being treated in Philadelphia hospitals, with a total of 36 on ventilators.

In the last two weeks, 4.6 percent of COVID-19 tests in Philadelphia have come back positive.

Thus far during the pandemic, 177,196 Philadelphians have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and 4,092 have succumbed to the virus. Philadelphia is averaging 239 new cases of COVID-19 per day over the last two weeks.

"Since the discovery of this new variant, we have been preparing for the likelihood of an Omicron case in Philadelphia," Mayor Jim Kenney said Friday. "A new variant, especially one that may be more transmissible, means that we have to stay vigilant about taking steps to protect ourselves and everyone around us. I know that this news is especially discouraging as we enter the holiday season, but we can get through this together. Now is the time to get your vaccine or booster, mask up, and take extra precautions when you are going out in public or getting together with other households."