1st Harris County omicron-connected death verified, overall health officials says

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Over the system of two weeks, Harris County went from saying the very first identified case of the omicron variant in our place to saying the initially regarded dying.

“As we have been expecting the omicron variant of COVID-19 has arrived in total drive,” claimed Judge Lina Hidalgo. “Early information suggests it’s doubling in two to three days according to the CDC. Just to give a level of comparison the delta variant doubles in each and every 11 days.”

On Monday, Hidalgo declared the initial omicron-associated loss of life, a guy in his fifties who was not vaccinated. In addition, the man experienced an fundamental overall health ailment, according to Hidalgo.

Hidalgo explained the victim was a man in his 50s who was not vaccinated.

Even with a far more contagious virus, Dr. Linda Yancey with Memorial Hermann claimed early data implies this variant may possibly be fewer severe.

“We have original studies on omicron that exhibit it is not more lethal than delta,” reported Yancey.

The infectious illness specialist reminds us we are also in a superior spot currently than we have been very last Christmas.

“This time a 12 months in the past, a handful of folks in the Houston region had been vaccinated, (now) it is two-thirds of the individuals,” she claimed.

SEE ALSO: Harris Co. Decide Lina Hidalgo raises COVID menace stage to orange in advance of Christmas

While she claims they do foresee breakthrough scenarios amongst the vaccinated, details indicates this variant will inflict milder indicators on those who are totally vaccinated and boosted, which she hopes will dampen the anticipated surge.

“Even even though we are likely to see a surge, we are heading to see an raise in scenarios, our hope is that it can be not heading to be something like what we saw in December and January final year,” mentioned Dr. Yancey.

SEE ALSO: Unvaccinated should really anticipate winter of ‘illness and death’ forward of projected COVID surge: White Property

She suggests the finest reward you can share this holiday getaway year, is the gift of health.

“I am encouraging every person, get…