Omicron variant present in almost one-third of U.S. states

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has unfold to about one-third of U.S. states, however the Delta model stays nearly all of COVID-19 infections as instances rise nationwide, U.S. well being officers mentioned on Sunday. Though the emergence of the brand new variant has prompted alarm worldwide, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the highest U.S. infectious illness official, informed CNN “thus far it does not look like there’s a great degree of severity to it.” He added that it was too early to attract definitive conclusions and that extra research is required.
Fauci, U.S. President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, mentioned he additionally hoped the United States would raise its ban on vacationers from southern African international locations in a “reasonable period of time.” The South African authorities has complained it’s being punished – as a substitute of applauded – for locating the brand new variant and shortly informing worldwide well being officers.

Fauci, in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” praised South Africa for its transparency and mentioned the U.S. journey ban was imposed at a time “when we were really in the dark” and wanted time to review the variant.At least 16 U.S. states have reported Omicron instances: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin, in response to a Reuters tally.
Many of the instances had been amongst totally vaccinated people with gentle signs, though the booster shot standing of some sufferers was not reported. Despite a number of dozen Omicron instances, the Delta variant nonetheless accounts for 99.9% of latest COVID instances within the United States, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky informed ABC News in an interview.
“We are everyday hearing about more and more probable cases so that number is likely to rise,” she mentioned.The United States over the past seven days has averaged 119,000 new instances a day and misplaced almost 1,300 lives to COVID every day, in response to a Reuters tally.
Louisiana at present has one Omicron case from a person who traveled inside the United States, its well being division mentioned on Sunday.On Saturday, it mentioned a Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd cruise ship set to dock in New Orleans with greater than 3,000 passengers discovered 10 instances of COVID-19 on board.

Officials mentioned passengers on the Norwegian Breakaway, which stopped in Belize, Honduras and Mexico, could be examined and given the CDC’s post-exposure and quarantine tips. The emergence of the brand new variant has sharply curtailed the variety of vitality executives and authorities ministers planning to attend the four-day World Petroleum Congress in Houston this week, which had already been rescheduled from 2020.
But journey restrictions and worries over the brand new variant noticed vitality ministers from Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Argentina, Equatorial Guinea, Greece, Turkey and Romania – bowed out, WPC officers mentioned on Sunday.Governors of two states with reported Omicron instances — Connecticut and Colorado — mentioned they hoped their higher-than-average vaccination charges would blunt the impression.
“We want to see how well the vaccinations hold up,” Colorado’s Jared Polis informed ABC.As U.S. Omicron instances emerge, COVID-19 vaccine makers goal to shortly tweak their photographs to focus on the variant and U.S. regulators have vowed speedy opinions, however that might nonetheless take months.”Certainly, FDA (Food and Drug Administration) will transfer swiftly and CDC will transfer swiftly,” Walensky mentioned.
Moderna Inc has focused U.S. approval of an up to date vaccine as quickly as March, however firm officers on Sunday mentioned it should nonetheless take time to extend output.Moderna Co-founder and Chairman Noubar Afeyan informed CNN it might take one other seven to 10 days to collect key knowledge.
Then, it “will take a good 60 to 100 days” to deploy an Omicron-specific shot, though different choices like a better dose of the present booster are being explored, he mentioned.U.S. authorities officers are additionally working with Pfizer Inc and Johnson & Johnson on up to date photographs, whereas Pfizer and Merck & Co Inc are pursuing COVID-19 capsule therapies.