(Portland, OR) -- Local county health officials remain on the lookout for signs of the highly mutated new omicron COVID-19 variant discovered in South Africa. Clark County deputy health officer Doctor Steven Krager says he believes there's a high chance that the variant has already made its way to the region. He's urging residents to continue to take precautions to remain healthy. The omicron variant has not yet been detected by health officials in the U.S.