The Department of Health has confirmed the state’s first case of the Omicron variant strain in a Hawaiʻi resident on the island of Oʻahu.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble said the adult individual under the age of 65 was not vaccinated and had been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 over a year ago. She said the individual had not traveled outside of the state, and the transmission is believed to be community spread. The cases is still under investigation.
The variant was first identified in South Africa and in recent days was identified in the US. This is the third case identified to date in the US–the other cases were in California and Minnesota in fully vaccinated individuals, according to the DOH. Dr. Kemble said she believes this is the first case in the US in an unvaccinated person with prior infection.
The patient experienced mild to moderate symptoms and is currently in isolation at home. Health…