IOWA’S HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE CONFIRMING THE FIRST CASE OF THE OMICRON COVID-19 VARIANT IN A STATE RESIDENT.
THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAYS THE CASE INVOLVES AN UNVACCINATED PERSON UNDER THE AGE OF 18 FROM BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
THE MINOR HAD RECENTLY TRAVELED AND IS NOT EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS BUT HAS BEEN ADVISED TO ISOLATE.
INTERIM DIRECTOR KELLY GARCIA SAID THERE’S EMERGING EVIDENCE A THIRD DOSE OF A COVID VACCINE OFFERS PROTECTION AGAINST THE OMICRON VARIANT AND SHE’S URGING IOWANS ELIGIBLE FOR A BOOSTER SHOT TO GET ONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
MORE THAN 69 PERCENT OF IOWA ADULTS ARE FULLY VACCINATED, BUT IT’S UNCLEAR HOW MANY HAVE GOTTEN A BOOSTER SHOT.