According to the Orange County Health Department, lab results show that an Orange County resident has recently tested positive for the omicron variant of COVID-19.

Officials said on Friday the resident is fully vaccinated but has not yet received a booster shot. They are currently at home in isolation with mild symptoms. Genomic sequencing confirming the case was conducted at UNC Hospitals.

Omicron arrives as the delta variant continues to surge in Orange County. There have been 344 new cases of COVID-19 in the past two weeks, compared to 190 in the previous two weeks, according to the local health department.

“The first case of Omicron is a reminder of the importance of vaccination, boosters, and general prevention strategies needed to protect against COVID-19,” said Orange County Health Director Quintana Stewart in a release on Friday. “Everyone five and older should get vaccinated and boosters are recommended for everyone 16 years and older.”

Health officials urge the community to get vaccinated, wear masks, and take a COVID-19 test if feeling unwell to protect against the virus and its variants.

To further prevent spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends a booster for everyone 16 and older.

The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is the latest strain of the coronavirus to be designated a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization (WHO). On December 10, North Carolina confirmed it first positive test for the omicron variant from a student at UNC Charlotte who had gone out of state during Thanksgiving.

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