The Houston Health Department is testing the city's wastewater for the new COVID variant, omicron, which experts say could soon be found in the U.S.

The department tests the city's wastewater weekly for COVID strains. The most recent samples collected the week of November 22 show no trace of the omicron variant, officials said. 

“Although our team has not detected Omicron in Houston, we should anticipate it arriving, and the health department is prepared to scale its operations as needed to respond," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a release. "In the meantime, I encourage eligible Houstonians to get fully vaccinated.”

Much is still unknown about the new variant, including if it's more transmissible, deadly or more bypasses vaccines.