- The Omicron Covid-19 variant is now the most dominant strain in the US, accounting for over 73% of new coronavirus cases less than three weeks after the first was reported, according to estimates posted Monday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- The only states that have not reported cases of Omicron are Oklahoma and South Dakota.
- Health experts are urging Americans to get vaccinated or boosted to protect themselves and others before they face greater chances of infection.
- With Omicron reported in nearly every US state and Delta still present, cases in some areas are rising.
The Omicron Covid-19 variant is now the most dominant strain in the US, accounting for over 73% of new coronavirus cases less than three weeks after the first was reported, according to estimates posted Monday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as reported by CNN.
New cases
It’s been just 20 days since the US detected its first case of Omicron.
The week prior, ending December 11, Omicron was estimated at just 12.6% of circulating virus, and in the first week of December, Omicron accounted for about 1% of new cases.
The only states that have not reported cases of Omicron are Oklahoma and South Dakota.
This is the first known, confirmed Omicron-related death in the US.
According to a release from Harris County Public Health, the man “was unvaccinated and had been infected with COVID-19 previously.”
Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy and the University of Minnesota, told CNN’s Kate Bolduan on Monday that even if Omicron proves to be less severe, “We are going to see 20%, 30% of health care workers getting infected, who will then be off of work in a health care system right now that is already stretched to the point of breaking.”
Health experts on vaccines
With the Delta and Omicron coronavirus variants spreading across the nation as the new year approaches, health experts are urging Americans to get vaccinated or boosted to protect themselves and others before they face greater chances of infection.
And the indoor gatherings among friends and family could ultimately infect more who are at higher risk for Covid-19 complications.
De Blasio also spoke about the annual New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square.
Currently, the outdoor event is still scheduled to go on and all guests must be fully vaccinated.
But de Blasio said city officials are reviewing plans for the event in light of Omicron and said any changes would be announced before Christmas.
Situations in future
Dr Francis Collins, the outgoing director of the National Institutes of Health, told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Friday that the Omicron variant could result in as many as a million new cases a day.
Collins suggested the impact of that level of spread on an already stressed health care system remains uncertain.
“It is quite likely that we are going to see in some sections of the country, a significant stress on the hospital system as well as on the health care workers who are getting exhausted by all of this,” Dr Anthony Fauci told ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, noting that a more transmissible form of Covid-19, such as Omicron, will have a greater impact on the tens of millions of Americans who have not been vaccinated.
He will address the nation Tuesday regarding the latest developments with Omicron and to issue another “stark warning of what the winter will look like for Americans who choose to remain unvaccinated,” the White House said.
“In the coming weeks,” Tony, “we are going to see a spike in cases.”
“And that’s because Omicron is incredibly transmissible, and you know, we have to be prepared for that,” Murthy said.
States response to outbreaks
With Omicron reported in nearly every US state and Delta still present, cases in some areas are rising.
There’s generally about a three-week lag behind Covid-19 case trends and hospitalizations, according to a CNN Health analysis, but officials are hopeful the state will be in a more favourable position than last year.
We have the tools to protect ourselves and the vulnerable loves ones in our families: Get vaccinated, get the booster and wear a mask when indoors or in large gatherings.
“Don’t take a chance during the winter surge.”
But he said he isn’t looking to enforce any quarantines on those travelling to and from Covid-19 hotspots.
The Republican governor’s announcement follows a string of lawmakers who have been fully vaccinated and boosted and tested positive for Covid-19.
Education & sports
The tenor of the conversation around Covid-19 may shift depending on whether hospitalizations spike or plateau in the coming weeks.
Citing the “uncertainty” around the Omicron variant, Stanford University announced it is shifting to online instruction for the first two weeks of the upcoming winter quarter, slated to begin January 3.
Five NBA games have been postponed as several teams in the league have numerous players under Covid-19 health and safety protocols.
More than a dozen games in NCAA men’s basketball have been cancelled or postponed.
And the NFL delayed three of its Sunday games and updated its Covid-19 testing procedures, which will no longer call for testing of asymptomatic, fully vaccinated players, coaches and other staff with close contact with players.
Moderna
Biotechnology company Moderna announced Monday that preliminary data suggests its half-dose booster shot increased antibody levels against Omicron compared with the levels seen when a fully vaccinated person does not receive a booster — but a larger-sized dose of the booster increases antibody levels even more.
Currently, Moderna’s booster is administered as a 50-microgram dose.
The company announcement noted that its 50-microgram booster dose increased antibody levels 37-fold and a 100-microgram booster dose increased antibody levels 83-fold compared with levels seen before a booster.
It remains unclear what these increases mean as far as how well the booster doses clinically work against Omicron.
“The dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases from the Omicron variant is concerning to all.”
Did you subscribe to our newsletter?
It’s free! Click here to subscribe!
Source: CNN
