Atlanta – The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) has confirmed the Omicron variant in
an unvaccinated metro Atlanta resident with no recent international travel history. The individual
has mild COVID symptoms and is isolating at home. Contact tracing is underway to identify close
contacts at risk of COVID-19 infection.

Previously, two cases of the Omicron variant were confirmed in metro Atlanta residents. One of
those individuals was tested in New Jersey and is recovering there.

The omicron variant has now been detected in patients in at least 21 U.S. states and in dozens of
countries around the world. Preliminary data show that Omicron may cause less severe illness but
may spread more easily than the Delta variant. Scientists are still researching how well the current
COVID vaccines or natural immunity hold up against Omicron, and caution that it is too early to
make conclusions about Omicron because there is not enough data available.

More than 1,000 new cases of COVID are reported daily in Georgia, 99% of which are Delta
variant and predominantly in unvaccinated individuals. Vaccination is crucial to stopping
transmission of COVID and preventing the emergence of variants.

All Georgians over the age of 5 are now eligible for COVID vaccination. Booster doses of vaccine
are recommended for adults 18 and older who completed their first series of Pfizer or Moderna
vaccine at least six months ago or two months ago for J&J vaccine. (CDC recommendations for
booster doses of Pfizer vaccine are currently pending for 16- and 17-year-olds.) The CDC also
recommends general prevention measures such as wearing a mask in public settings, staying 6
feet from others, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, and frequently washing your hands
to protect against COVID-19.

Individuals who have symptoms of COVID-19 or who may have been exposed to someone with
COVID should get tested.

To find a COVID vaccine or COVID testing location near you log on to dph.ga.gov.
NOTE: DPH will continue to monitor Omicron and provide updates as new information becomes
available. DPH will not issue news releases on every future case but will provide the number of
confirmed cases or percentages when requested, as we have done with other variants.
For updates on COVID-19, follow @GaDPH and @GovKemp on Twitter and @GaDPH and
@GovKemp on Facebook.