Omicron Variant Detected In Wastewater Collected In Tulsa

Officials from OU health announced Wednesday that the COVID-19 Omicron variant had been discovered in wastewater collected in Tulsa on Friday, December 17.

The announcement was made only one day after the first case of the Omicron variant was detected in the state.

Related Story: First Omicron Variant Case Detected In Oklahoma

The discovery was made by a team from the University of Oklahoma, OU Health, the Tulsa Health Department and the City of Tulsa and supported by the Pandemic Prevention Institute at the Rockefeller Foundation.

According to OU Health, individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 shed the virus in their waste before they develop symptoms of COVID-19, allowing scientists the opportunity to provide early warnings of possible surges.