1st known cases of omicron variant confirmed in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The first known cases of the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus have been confirmed in North Dakota. The state Health Department said Monday (Dec. 20, 2021) that two of the cases were in Ward County and one each in Burleigh and Cass counties. No hospitalizations have been reported due to the variant. All four cases are of people younger than 50. Two people had traveled together to another state and the other two did not have any travel noted, the department said. Three of the four people had completed two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, but had not received booster shots. One person was unvaccinated. State Health Officer Dr. Nizar Wehbi encouraged people to get tested for COVID-19 before and after holiday gatherings.