An Omicron-Infected Patient from Minnesota Attended Javits Center Conference

By Yehudit Garmaise

A patient who is infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been detected in Minnesota, after attending the AnimeNYC conference at the Javits Center in New York City from Nov. 19 to 22, Gov. Kathy Hochul just announced in a press conference.

“No cases are yet in the state of New York,” the governor said, “however, we are cognizant that it is very likely soon that someone will soon test positive for this.

“We are ready, we are prepared, we are not sounding the alarms, we are not overreacting to this, but I want New Yorkers to have the confidence to know that we are ready to deal with it.” 

New York’s state government is working in close collaboration with the state’s local governments, Gov. Hochul said. 

Anyone who attended the conference, and anyone experiencing COVID symptoms should immediately get tested and take precautions, such as social distancing from others, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement.

“Our cities and our counties are prepared for this,” the governor said. “We are ramping up our efforts to get more vaccinations out there. We are ensuring there is no area of the state where someone cannot easily access a vaccination.” 

The infected patient from Minnesota had been vaccinated, like all the participants of the conference of the Javits Center were required to be, had very mild symptoms, which have already been resolved, said Gov. Hochul, who said that there is “no reason why 100% of New Yorkers are not vaccinated.”

The problem now is not vaccine supply, which is plentiful, but New Yorkers who have made the decision to not get vaccinated, Gov. Hochul said.

“Get those shots, get your children vaccinated,” urged the governor, who said she is in constant communication with the Department of Health (DOH), Mayor Bill de Blasio, and federal health officials. “We are not defenseless against this variant, and I want everyone to have the confidence that we can handle this. 

“We are ready for it. It is not surprising. This is the fourth variant that has arrived, and while there is much more information that is to be learned, we are in a far better place today than we were at the start of the pandemic. 

“There are steps we can take that we encourage everyone to do,” said the governor, who reiterated the importance of all New Yorkers to get vaccinated, get boosted, and wear masks when they are out in public. 

“We are so much better off today,” said Mary Bassett, MD, whom the governor introduced as the new state’s new DOH commissioner.

“As our understanding changes, we will change,” said Dr. Bassett, who the governor called among “the best and the brightest.” “That is how science works.

“Get vaccinated, get boosted, and wear a mask. We are all in this together”

“We do anticipate that there will be more cases, but to the extent that they are mild, we will address them,” Gov. Hochul said. “This is no cause for alarm. It was foreseen ever since it was reported out of South Africa that a case would eventually come to New York.”

Photo: Flickr