New York announced three more cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus on late Saturday, bringing the number of state cases linked to the new variant to eight, AP reports.

The Omicron variant is here, and as anticipated we are seeing the beginning of community spread,” state Health Commissioner Mary Bassett said in a news release.

The number of states finding the variant is growing as well, with Massachusetts, Connecticut and Washington state announcing their first cases on Saturday — a day after New Jersey, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Maryland reported their first confirmed cases. Missouri reported its first presumed case on Friday.

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