State officials, health systems keeping close eye on emerging omicron variant

Photo | HBJ File Hartford HealthCare flagship Hartford Hospital’s Seymour Street campus.

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By Zachary Vasile & Robert Storace

Connecticut’s public health system is keeping a close eye on developments related to the spread of the COVID-19 omicron variant, Gov. Ned Lamont said Sunday, as state officials continued to urge residents to get vaccinated or get a booster shot if they already have been.

The omicron variant was first reported to the World Health Organization by the government of South Africa on Wednesday. Since then, the U.S. has curtailed travel from several southern African countries in an effort to block the spread of the pathogen, which is believed to be more contagious than other forms of the coronavirus.

According to the WHO, positive cases have turned up in countries such as Australia, Belgium, Germany, the U.K. and Canada.

“Our team at the Connecticut Department of Public Health, led by Commissioner Manisha Juthani, is following these developments closely,” Lamont said in a statement. “While there have been no cases of the omicron variant reported here in Connecticut or the United States to date, we still must be vigilant. Given the number of countries where omicron has already been detected, it may already be present in the U.S.”

A network of labs, coordinated through the Public Health Department, is currently performing genomic sequencing on positive COVID-19 test samples, allowing the state to track which variants are circulating in Connecticut. Those measures will help public health workers track omicron, too, as well as other variants that could appear in the future, the governor said.

State officials reiterated calls for residents to get vaccinated or get a booster shot, and to wear masks while in indoor public places, get tested for COVID-19 if they feel ill and stay home from work and other events if they are unwell.

“There’s a reason why Connecticut has garnered national recognition during this pandemic and that’s because of our residents,” Lamont said. “With your help, we will get through this next stage, as well.”

Medical officials at Hartford HealthCare, holding their own press conference Monday morning, warned the public not to panic over the omicron variant and said it’s still too early to say how exactly the virus will behave or what kind of danger it poses.

“Don’t panic,” said Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist and system director of infectious diseases. “More data will come about omicron and we will take it on.”

Wu said the data on omicron is in the early stages, but it does appear there are about 50 mutations and there is increased transmissibility. There have been no deaths to date due to the new variant and most of those who have come down with omicron have had mild cases, he emphasized.

Keith Grant, senior system director for infection prevention, said HHC will continue with mitigation strategies already in place, including risk assessments, masking and encouraging people to get vaccinated and boosted.