Omicron Covid-19 Variant Identified in Klickitat County
By Klickitat County Health Department
Klickitat County Health Department Urges Community Members to Schedule Their Vaccinations
The Klickitat County Health Department (KCHD) was notified today, on January 11th that the COVID-19 Omicron variant has been identified in Klickitat County. This variant information was gathered through the state public health surveillance program which tests for variant strains not for the purposes of clinical or public health management of individuals. As a result, no information was provided that would allow us to identify the individual that tested positive for the omicron variant at this time.
Get Informed: Current Information About the Omicron Variant
The Omicron variant is recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Washington State Department of Health as a concerning variant because of its potential increase in transmission.
Current information about the Omicron variant found on the CDC’s variant information website:
The Omicron variant is likely to spread easier than the original virus. However, it is unclear at this time if it is more easily spread than the Delta variant.
Breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated are expected, but vaccines are effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death.
Anyone who contracts the Omicron variant can spread the virus to others even if they are vaccinated or not having any symptoms.
The recent emergence of the Omicron variant further emphasizes the importance of vaccination and boosters.
Scientists are still working on determining whether or not existing treatments for COVID-19 will be equally as effective for this variant.
Vaccine boosters are recommended for anyone who has completed their Moderna or Pfizer vaccination series more than six months ago or received a J&J vaccine more than two months ago.
For more information on the Omicron variant, please visit the CDC website.
KCHD will continue to respond to COVID-19 with the current course of action. This includes encouraging community members to get vaccinated in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Community members can schedule their vaccinations online through KCHD at or by calling NorthShore Medical, Skyline Health, or Klickitat Valley Health for a vaccine appointment. Masking and good hand hygiene are still recommended for everyone.
Editors Note: North Central Public Health District has also anticipated a January surge in COVID-19 due to the new highly transmissible omicron variant and is encouraging those in Wasco Sherman, and Gilliam County’s to be safe and get vaccinated.
