3 COVID-19 Cases At UT Austin: 'Very Strongly Linked' To Omicron

Austin TX

13 December, 2021

1:53 PM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — The University of Texas at Austin reports three people may have tested positive for the new omicron variant over the weekend. The three cases mark the first reports of the highly contagious variant in Austin-Travis County. The university reported Monday the three tests, conducted through its on-campus testing efforts, are currently being sequenced — a process that takes several days — to confirm the variant. The people who had a preliminary test suggestive of the omicron variant have been informed, as have Austin Public Health, school officials said in a news release. University officials say the three people who received a positive test result have been instructed to isolate themselves. The cases do not appear to be linked to each other, according to contract tracing results. "The detection of these cases on campus, which contact tracing has revealed are not linked to one another, suggests that the variant is present in the greater community, and we are working with local and state health authorities accordingly," officials said. Preliminary research and reports suggest the omicron variant is more transmissible and potentially less severe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also indicate that current vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths due to infection with the variant. This is the second incident where omicron may have been detected in Texas. Last week, Houston reported its first omicron case was a woman in her 40s from northwest Harris County. RELATED: Texas' 1st Omicron Variant Case Identified In Houston Area