Omicron COVID-19 variant found in 12 states as Delta variant cases are rising

At least 32 cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant have been reported across 12 states — 7 cases in California, 1 in New Jersey in a Georgia resident, 1 in Utah, 2 in Colorado, 1 in Missouri, 1 in Pennsylvania, 3 in Maryland, 6 in Nebraska, 1 in Hawaii, 8 in New York, 1 in Minnesota and 1 in Massachusetts.

The biggest question is whether current, available vaccines will prevent severe cases spread by the Omicron variant.

So far, the handful of known cases in the U.S. have been reported by health officials as mild and in vaccinated people. But with so few cases, there's not enough evidence yet on what to expect from Omicron.