US reports first case of Omicron

The United States on Wednesday (local time) reported its first case of the 'Omicron' variant of the COVID-19.

The case has been detected in the US state of California, Top Medical Adviser Anthony Fauci was quoted as saying by CNN.

"The California and San Francisco Departments of Public Health and the CDC have confirmed that a recent case of COVID-19 in an individual in California was caused by the Omicron variant... The individual was a traveller who returned from South Africa on November 22 and tested positive on November 29," Dr Fauci said.

"The infected individual, who was fully vaccinated, is experiencing mild symptoms," the medical advisor added.

Fauci also noted that people who came into contact with the individual have been notified and all have tested negative for the virus.

The new Omicron coronavirus variant has been confirmed in 23 countries and their number is expected to rise, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.