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Omicron variant detected in Cleveland Clinic lab

Virus Outbreak US
Steven Senne/AP
FILE - Licensed practical nurse Yokasta Castro, of Warwick, R.I., draws a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe at a mass vaccination clinic, May 19, 2021, at Gillette Stadium, in Foxborough, Mass. While all eyes are on the new and little-understood omicron variant, the delta form of the coronavirus isn't finished wreaking havoc in the U.S. There is much that is unknown about omicron, including whether it is more contagious than previous versions, makes people sicker or more easily thwarts the vaccine or breaks through the immunity that people get from a bout of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
Virus Outbreak US
Posted at 3:21 PM, Dec 13, 2021
and last updated 2021-12-13 15:21:55-05

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Clinic has confirmed that the omicron variant has been detected in one of their labs.

The clinic said they routinely sequence positive tests every week and share their data with the Ohio Department of Health.

Their weekly tests help them track variants throughout Northeast Ohio.

"We continue to urge our community to receive their COVID-19 vaccination, as this continues to be the best protection against severe illness and death from COVID-19," the Clinic said in a statement.

The omicron variant was detected in the state over the weekend.

RELATED: Omicron variant detected in Ohio, state health department says

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