Local authorities in Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás state in central Brazil, reported on Jan. 6 what they described as the first death linked to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
The victim was a 68-year-old man with comorbidities, chronic lung disease, and high blood pressure. He had been vaccinated with three doses of the inoculation against COVID-19.
The confirmation was made possible thanks to the genome sequencing program in Aparecida de Goiânia.
The first cases of the variant were registered on December 12. The city stated that Omicron reached community transmission levels in the municipality 20 days ago.
“Weʼve lost a vaccinated patient, who had chronic health issues, which are important risk factors for COVID-19. Unfortunately, he did not resist. A life lost among the thousands saved by immunization,” said the cityʼs Health Secretary Alessandro Magalhães.