An unvaccinated man living in Harris County, Texas, becomes the first victim having died from the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the United States, Harris County Public Health (HCPH) announced Monday.
The death reported Monday afternoon was of a man between the ages of 50-60 years old who were unvaccinated and had been infected with COVID-19 previously, the HCPH said in a statement.
According to the HCPH, the individual was at higher risk of severe complications from COVID-19 due to his unvaccinated status and had underlying health conditions.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the patient’s family, and we extend our deepest sympathies,” said Barbie Robinson, HCPH Executive Director. “This is a reminder of the severity of COVID-19 and its variants. We urge all residents who qualify to get vaccinated and get their booster shot if they have not already.”
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo tweeted: “Sad to report the first local fatality from the Omicron variant of COVID-19. A man in his 50s from the eastern portion of Harris County who was not vaccinated.”
The victim had an underlying health condition, she added.
Omicron accounts for 73.2 percent of new cases across the country in the week that ended on Dec. 18, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported that the Omicron variant is widespread.
“There is still a lot of unknown information about the Omicron variant, though this case has been confirmed through additional testing that may not reflect the total number of cases in our community, the agency said.
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