The United States’ first confirmed case of the Omicron coronavirus variant has been identified in California, writes CNN.

In a White House news briefing, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the case was in an individual who traveled from South Africa on November 22 - before travel restrictions were in place - and tested positive for Covid-19 on November 29.

That individual, Fauci said, is self-quarantining and close contacts have tested negative for the coronavirus so far.

The person was fully vaccinated and is experiencing “mild symptoms, which are improving at this point”, - Fauci said. Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s director of public health, said the person had not had a booster shot.