1st known Omicron death in U.S. reported in Texas

A doctor treats a COVID-19 patient.
(Image credit: Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images)

An unvaccinated man from the Houston area who died Monday is believed to be the first recorded death in the United States linked to the Omicron coronavirus variant.

Health officials in Texas revealed that the man, who was in his 50s, tested positive for the Omicron variant while he was still alive. The Harris County Public Health Department said the man had previously been infected with the coronavirus, and "was at a higher risk of severe complications from COVID-19 due to his unvaccinated status and had underlying health conditions."

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.