Second U.S. Omicron Variant Case Found In Man Who Attended NYC Anime Convention

The second confirmed case of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in the United States has been found in a Minnesota man who recently attended NYC's anime convention at the Javits Center from November 18-22.

If you attended the Anime NYC 2021 Convention at the Javits Center from November 18-22, get tested for #COVID19 as soon as possible.➡️ https://t.co/fESkqpcKQo pic.twitter.com/niI8ENg3ez

— City of New York (@nycgov) December 2, 2021

While it is unclear when the man contracted the Omicron Variant, the timeline suggests that he may have contracted it and/or spread it at the anime con, meaning that the Omicron variant may have hit New York City.

It is still unclear how dangerous the Omicron variant is, particularly among the vaccinated (the anime con attendee is said to have "mild" symptoms). Medical experts online emphasized calm and caution as the news spread on Twitter and was widely discussed.

Minnesota omicron case had recent travel to an anime convention in New York City. A reminder:Step 1. Don't panic. This is no surprise.Step 2. Don't stigmatize Minnesota/NYC. These cases will eventually arise everywhere. Step 3. Seriously, don't panic. But get vaccinated. https://t.co/GdmwSkx0OS

— Nsikan Akpan, PhD (@MoNscience) December 2, 2021

Anime NYC attendees, before you get scared please remember:The vaccines are effective against the Omicron variant which has shown to be more easily transmissible but with milder symptoms if vaccinated.Get tested, get boosted.

— Lynzee Loveridge Official Jingle Belle (@ANN_Lynzee) December 2, 2021

Still, many Twitter users were able to find a grim sort of humor in the fact that the ground zero for Omicron in New York was an anime convention.

weebs can't have ONE nice week without something pic.twitter.com/aKNZTMcvEY

— chris person (@Papapishu) December 2, 2021

Fascinating, apparently omicron has mutated enough that it can now survive in an environment as harsh and inhospitable to life as Anime NYC. https://t.co/85h1gZYz6S

— Ryan Broderick (@broderick) December 2, 2021

Anime NYC introducing Omicron to the city is a loss for New Yorkers but a big win for the “ban anime” movement

— explaining “dragula” lyrics on genius (@Yelix) December 2, 2021

If the anime convention turns out to be an Omicron superspreader event, it's because we live in a simulation. Hope this helps. https://t.co/Ufrfgf51OX

— Louis Festival of Lights-man (@LouisPeitzman) December 2, 2021

Should it turn out to be the case that Anime NYC is the cause of the Omicron variant hitting NYC, it will be the second time in a month anime has somehow been connected to matters of national importance. Late last month, Congress voted to censure Paul Gosar for posting an Attack On Titan parody in which he slaughtered titan Joe Biden, among others.