Hawaii reported its first case of the omicron variant on Thursday, saying that the person who tested positive was unvaccinated. The Hawaii Department of Health said a resident from the island of O’ahu had tested positive and was displaying moderate symptoms. ADVERTISEMENTThe department said the case had been detected on Monday “with a molecular clue indicating it may be Omicron.” Hawaii confirmed on Thursday that it was the omicron variant after the state's Laboratories Division performed an expedited genome sequencing on the specimen taken from the infected resident. We need to protect ourselves by getting vaccinated, wearing masks, distancing as best we can and avoiding large crowds,” Hawaii Health Director Elizabeth Char said in a statement. The report from Hawaii comes the same day that New York confirmed it had found five cases of the omicron variant in its state, after another confirmed case was reported in Minnesota earlier that day.
