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U.S. steps up search for Omicron variant in domestic COVID-19 cases -Breaking

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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO – A sign promoting coronavirus (COVID-19), testing in advance of Thanksgiving at Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts U.S.A, November 22, 2021. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO (Reuters] – To distinguish Omicron domestic variants from still-dominant Delta cases, the United States will increase its COVID-19 surveillance. According to the head the Association of State-Run Public Health Laboratories, Monday’s statement was made by Reuters.

Since then, the new variant has been found in at least 10 additional countries. According to U.S. officials, it’s only a matter time until it appears in the country.

Omicron, with its unusually large number of mutations suggesting it might reduce vaccine safety, has raised new concerns. Worldwide, countries are trying to figure out how the coronavirus has spread within their borders.

Scott Becker is the chief executive of Association of Public Health Laboratories. “I believe we will see it within the next few days,” said Scott Becker, chief executive of the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL).

Becker explained that members of the team, which includes representatives of city and state public health labs, met Friday with White House officials to discuss the variant and U.S. efforts at identifying it. On Monday, a second meeting will be held with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, stated that she could assure reporters that public health officials are always in touch with state officials.

Becker said that the increase in use of ThermoFisher Inc COVID-19 molecular testing to detect potential cases is one of the initial steps.

ThermoFisher has been used by other countries such as Israel and Belgium. The test’s unique design makes it possible to identify a genetic defect within the S gene. This can be used to distinguish Omicron from Delta variants, which account for over 99.8% of all coronavirus cases.

Lab officials are alerted if COVID-19 victims have a drop in the S-gene. These cases should then be sequenced further to confirm Omicron.

Becker explained, “It signals us and then those specimens which have it will instantly go for sequencing.”

56 of the US’s 68 public health laboratories that do sequencing have run a test with ThermoFisher systems, while 35 already use it.

Becker claimed that he expected the 21 other users to use it by today.

Becker explained that the United States is currently running sequences for 93,000 COVID-19 testing per week. That’s a significant increase over the previous 3,000 per week. According to Becker, public health labs typically run 15,000-20,000 tests per week.

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