California health officials on watch for omicron variant
US will start restricting travel from 8 African countries over omicron variant Monday
Nearly two years since the start of the pandemic that has claimed more than 5 million lives around the world, countries are on high alert. Many, including the U.S., have already imposed travel restrictions on flights from southern Africa as they seek to buy time to assess whether the omicron variant is more transmissible than the current dominant delta variant.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California public health officials said Sunday they are watching for the omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus and stepping up vaccination and booster efforts.
"California is closely monitoring the new omicron variant, which has not yet arrived in California or the U.S.," Dr. Tomas Aragon, director of the California Department of Public Health said Sunday.
Vaccines are the best way to protect against serious illness from the COVID-19 and its variants, he said.
Mixing and matching coronavirus vaccines now allowed in US
New CDC guidance now says it's ok, in some cases, for health care providers to mix and match coronavirus vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna when giving people their two doses. KTVU's Alex Savidge talks with Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Peter Chin Hong from UC San Francisco about the new CDC guidance and the progress being made to vaccinate children.
"We are doubling down on our vaccination and booster efforts to ensure that all Californians have access to safe, effective, and free vaccines that can prevent serious illness and death," Aragon said in a statement.
The new variant, first reported by South Africa to the World Health Organization, has been classified as "a variant of concern."
SEE ALSO: Fauci would 'not be surprised' if omicron is already in US, predicts it will go 'all over'
President Joe Biden on Friday issued restrictions for travelers who have been in South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia or Zimbabwe.
Travelers who have been to those countries within the last 14 days must follow Centers for Disease Control recommendations to get tested 3-5 days after arrival, quarantine for seven days even if testing negative, and isolate for 10 days if COVID-19 symptoms develop. More information is available at www.cdph.ca.gov