Omicron variant puts US coronavirus sequencing to the test

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Rows of scientists sit before racks of coronavirus samples inside a laboratory in Henderson, North Carolina, wearing face masks and scrubs. All hours of the day and night, they transfer the samples from tubes to processing plates, searching for answers about the virus behind these Covid-19 cases.

From confirming a positive Covid-19 sample to prepping the DNA and then sequencing it, the process takes two to three days in the lab, said Lauren Moon, sequencing manager for MAKO Medical's Next Generation Sequencing Lab in North Carolina.First confirmed US case of Omicron coronavirus variant detected in CaliforniaWork like this is happening in labs around the United States as the country races to learn more about the newly identified Omicron variant.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains how Omicron compares to other variants 03:44It's not as simple as a Covid-19 test with a swab. Only samples that are sent into laboratories for diagnostic testing can be sequenced to look for the genetic evidence to tell which variant of virus has infected someone. The types of tests -- diagnostic and sequencing -- are done separately. Polymerase chain reaction or PCR testing makes the process easier.

Sequencing programs will remain important to track emerging pathogens around the world for years to come, said Katz of Harvard Medical School."It's just got to be part of our public health response moving forward. It's a good, important investment," Katz told CNN."I wish I could say that this is going to be the only global pandemic we'll see in our lifetime, but unfortunately, I think that's pretty unlikely.

 

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First confirmed US case of Omicron coronavirus variant detected in CaliforniaThe US' first confirmed case of the Omicron coronavirus variant has been identified in California. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said the case was an individual who traveled from South Africa. “The person was fully vaccinated and is experiencing 'mild symptoms, which are improving at this point,' Fauci said.”
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First Omicron Covid-19 Case Confirmed in U.S., CDC SaysThe CDC has confirmed a person in California has contracted the Omicron Covid-19 variant, but reportedly only suffered mild symptoms and is improving. No panic necessary. А каким способом они это диагностируют? И чем? So who cares Mild symptoms are symptoms and I am not taking a chance to get that
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First U.S. case of omicron variant is found in CaliforniaThe omicron Covid variant has been detected in California, the first confirmed U.S. case. The omicron variant of the coronavirus was first discovered in southern Africa. Poordeplomacy;Blinken went Kenya to discuss about ETHIOPIA but Wang Yi is in ETHIOPIA--Knowledge, Yetemare yigdelegn, Timiro Wondering how they know the vaccination helped with only having mild symptoms. Its not like the same unvaccinated person came back with extreme symptoms. So there is no proof that the vaccination helped this person. And before you bash me america I am vaccinated, just sayin.
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Stock futures inch higher after sell-off prompted by first U.S. omicron caseU.S. stock index futures inched higher during overnight trading on Wednesday.
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‘New Normal’: U.S. Travelers Are Not Panicking Over OmicronWhile Americans in general are more worried about Omicron than Delta, it's not impacting travel plans
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What we know about the San Francisco patient with first U.S. Omicron variant caseThe fully vaccinated individual returned home from South Africa on Nov. 22 and subsequently tested positive for the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Pandemic of the vaccinated. Well, actually they're not vaccines, they're just drugs, but you know, you can fool some of the people all of the time. So the US Govt did *not* catch this by their required testing This good citizen got themselves tested, so we would know👍 The US Govt testing is failing here👎
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