Hochul: State preparing for omicron’s arrival

Gov. Kathy Hochul is expressing concern about the omicron COVID-19 variant.

While no confirmed cases of the variant have been found in the U.S., Hochul said she’s anticipating its arrival.

With the weather getting colder, and more people gathering indoors for the holidays, the governor said she’s concerned about COVID rates.

With news the omicron variant is in Canada, the governor announced Monday she’s reopening the Queensbury vaccination site. That site will also offer COVID-19 tests.

The governor said the state is monitoring COVID-19 cases closely, and is watching for the omicron variant’s arrival.

"I fully expect it to arrive. We have notification that it has arrived in Ontario, which is literally across the bridge from where I live. I can see Canada from my house and Ontario is right there," said Hochul.

The governor Zoomed in Dr. Kirsten St. George from Wadsworth Labs, the state testing facility, during her briefing today.

She said the lab has been testing for genetic variants and is asking labs across the country to notify them if the omicron variant is found.