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SAN MATEO (KPIX) — As of Saturday afternoon, no circumstances of the Omicron variant had been reported to the San Mateo County Well being Division. On the other hand, proof of the variant has been detected within the waste water, in step with county well being officers.

Public well being officers and professionals around the Bay Space say the variant is spreading abruptly.

“A booster dose once you’re eligible is very important to offer protection to your self and your circle of relatives from COVID-19,” mentioned Dr. Scott Morrow, San Mateo County well being officer, in a press free up. “Even supposing you had been absolutely vaccinated previous this 12 months, a booster will building up your coverage in opposition to the omicron variant.”

“I believe that omicron being recognized in a couple of circumstances thus far — and rising — within the Bay Space, is the top of the iceberg,” mentioned Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious illness skilled at UCSF.

Vehicles coated up all the way through the day on Saturday on the San Mateo County Tournament Heart, stuffed with other folks signed as much as get booster photographs.

“It simply seems like there’s extra of an urgency now to do it,” mentioned Margaret Warren, who lives in Oakland. “I’m about seven months out from my 2nd Moderna shot so I sought after to head forward and get it in.”

Dr. Chin-Hong says analysis displays the omicron variant is extra transmissible than prior variants however hasn’t but been deemed to purpose extra serious sickness.

He mentioned vaccinations and booster photographs will lend a hand stay other folks from getting critically unwell.

“We’re indubitably going to emerge from this. I do know people had been in reality, in reality down concerning the contemporary chain of occasions,” Dr. Chin-Hong mentioned. “The boosters offers you the most productive armor in opposition to what’s coming.”

In spite of the frenzy for boosters, San Mateo County is quickly shutting down its huge drive-thru vaccination web page till Jan. 4, 2022. They’re going to be transitioning from a drive-thru web page to a walk-up web page. The plan has been within the works for some time and it’ll give the county extra flexibility for administering photographs, in step with a spokesperson.

There’ll nonetheless be a number of different vaccine websites open all the way through the vacation season. Other people can seek for appointments and places at http://myturn.ca.gov and http://smchealth.org/vaccine-clinic-calendar

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