(AP) — The omicron coronavirus variant has been confirmed in an unvaccinated Hawaiʻi resident with no recent travel history. Hawaiʻi health officials say the person was infected with COVID-19 a year ago. For the current infection, the person has mild-to-moderate symptoms including cough, body aches and headache. The news comes as multiple cases of the omicron variant have been detected in other states including Minnesota and California. Much remains unknown about the new variant, including whether it is more contagious, as some health authorities suspect, whether it makes people more seriously ill, and whether it can thwart the vaccine.

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