Omicron variant detected in Monroe County, health department says

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — The Monroe County Department of Public Health Wednesday announced that researchers at UR Medicine Labs detected the omicron variant of COVID-19 in Monroe County.

The county also said that U.S. Centers for Disease Control released Monday estimated that as many as 73% of all current COVID-19 cases nationally are the omicron variant, so it was just a matter of time before it was detected in Monroe County.

Breaking: Omicron is in Monroe County. "It was simply a matter of time." @news10nbc pic.twitter.com/tctFDVInJ2

— Berkeley Brean (@whec_bbrean) December 22, 2021

Earlier this week, Monroe County announced its "Vax. Boost. Mask – Let’s Keep Monroe Open" campaign, and its advice Wednesday is similar. It’s advising residents to wear masks while indoors, vet vaccinated and boosted, stay home if they fell sick and get tested for COVID-19 before gathering for the holidays.

Monroe County Public Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza and the Chief Medical Officers of Strong Hospital and Rochester Regional Health are expected to share more details on Thursday.