Gov. Update – Omicron

The newly-detected Omicron variant of COVID-19 was the center of discussion during Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s weekly press conference on Tuesday.

Reports of the discovery of the new and potentially more transmissible variant first surfaced last week in South Africa. Health experts in the U.S. are largely uncertain at this time what characteristics the new mutation possesses.

Hutchinson reiterated that information is scant on the Omni variant, including questions on its transmissibility, its effect on health and whether currently available vaccines are effective.

Health experts stress viruses, including the one that causes Covid-19, mutate regularly and most new mutations do not have significant impact on the virus’s behavior and the illness they cause.

However, Arkansas Health Secretary Dr. Jose Romero said the lack of information on the Omni variant at this time has raised some alarm. The Arkansas Department of Health is surveilling for the new variant and no case has yet been reported in the state.

He added evidence suggests currently available vaccines are effective against the new strain.

Romero also shared data suggesting an increasing proportion of the new cases of COVID-19 detected in Arkansas are among five to 18-year-olds. Vaccines, he stressed, are available for everyone aged five and up. In addition, he addressed the issue of vaccinations for women considering pregnancy and for those who already are.

Regarding the state’s updated COVID-19 figures, the Arkansas Department of Health reported 1,044 new cases on Tuesday – the highest single-day increase since September. That raises the state’s cumulative total of COVID-19 transmissions to nearly 529,000 since the pandemic began. Active cases increased by 335 on Tuesday for a current total of just under 5,700. Over the same period deaths increased by 12 to number 8,667 since spring of 2020. Finally, hospitalizations rose by 19 to leave 409 Arkansans currently hospitalized due to the virus.