NEW YORK (WWNY) – It’s likely the COVID-19 Omicron variant is in New York state.
That’s according to Gov. Kathy Hochul, who announced Thursday that someone in Minnesota who tested positive for the variant was recently at a convention at New York City’s Javits Center.
Hochul said there are no confirmed cases in the state, but the variant is likely here.
She said the organizers of the conference have contact information for everyone who attended.
In a release, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the Minnesota patient attended the Anime NYC 2021 convention from November 19-21, developed mild symptoms on November 22, and was tested two days later. He has since recovered.
The Minnesota Health Department says the patient was vaccinated.
Hochul said the news is not cause for alarm.
“We knew it would come to New York state at some point,” she said.
And, she said, unlike March of 2020, the state is ready.
“We’re in a far better place today than we were at the start of the pandemic,” she said.
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