The extremely transmissible Omicron variant has quickly taken maintain in the USA and now accounts for practically three-quarters of latest Covid-19 instances nationwide, in response to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
CDC estimates on Monday confirmed that Omicron accounted for an estimated 73.2 p.c of U.S. instances surveilled between Dec. 12 and 18, with the Delta variant now accounting for 26.6 p.c of instances. Between Dec. 5 and Dec 11, Omicron accounted for simply 12.6 p.c of U.S. instances, the company estimated.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and different well being officers final week mentioned the expectation was the variant would develop into the dominant pressure within the coming weeks. The White Home has urged vaccinations and booster pictures to fight the brand new variant, and President Joe Biden is anticipated to amplify that message throughout a speech on the state of the pandemic on Tuesday.