New York City has put out a warning for attendees of Anime NYC that one visitor has tested positive for the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has released a statement, after it came to light that an attendee at the convention may have been infected with the recent Omicron variant of COVID-19.
If you attended the Anime NYC 2021 Convention at the Javits Center from November 18-22, get tested for #COVID19 as soon as possible.
➡️ https://t.co/fESkqpcKQo pic.twitter.com/niI8ENg3ez
— City of New York (@nycgov) December 2, 2021
The Omicron infection has been traced to a man from Minnesota, who recently traveled to New York to attend the convention. De Blasio has advised anyone who attended Anime NYC and is experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19 to get themselves tested.
The mayor ends his statement by urging all New Yorkers to continue wearing masks, and by getting vaccinated if possible. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic (also known as COVID-19 officially) has affected many worldwide, from businesses, to anime broadcasts and production, to public gatherings and events.
These canceled events range from the 2021 Pokemon World Championships, to the “indefinite” delay of Super Nintendo World. The latter ended up opening only a few months later in March of this year. It was also recently announced a Donkey Kong-themed area will be coming to Super Nintendo World Japan in 2024.
The new Omicron variant of COVID-19 was first discovered in South Africa, and reported on November 26th by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC has since reported the first US case of Omicron on December 1st in California. This would make the Minnesota attendee of Anime NYC the second confirmed case of the variant in the nation.
Details about the variant remain scarce. But the CDC recommends persisting in strategies implemented to prevent the spread of the original COVID-19 and the Delta variant of the virus. These strategies include basic hygiene as well as wearing a mask in public.
