‘Concern’ Not ‘Panic’ Over Omicron, Biden Advises

Stat: ‘Not A Cause For Panic’: Biden Urges Calm In Face Of Omicron Fears 
President Biden on Monday urged calm amid widespread concern about the Omicron coronavirus variant first identified this month in southern Africa, urging Americans to get vaccinated and wear masks. Biden stopped short, though, of advocating for any new Covid-19 restrictions, like requiring vaccinations to board domestic flights or re-imposing local mask mandates. (Facher, 11/29)

The New York Times: Biden Calls Omicron A ‘Cause For Concern, Not A Cause For Panic.’
President Biden sought to reassure the nation on Monday about the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus as crucial questions about it remain, telling Americans that the variant is “a cause for concern, not a cause for panic,” and that his administration was working with vaccine manufacturers to modify vaccines and booster shots should that prove necessary. “We’re throwing everything we have at this virus, tracking it from every angle,” Mr. Biden said at the White House, adding, “I’m sparing no effort, removing all roadblocks to keep the American people safe.” (Gay Stolberg, 11/29)

On the US responses to omicron so far —

The New York Times: With Scant Information On Omicron, Biden Turned To Travel Ban To Buy Time
In a secure conference call from a vacation compound overlooking Nantucket Harbor, the president listened as his health advisers told him that the highly mutated virus was far more concerning than other variants they had seen in recent months. It spread twice as fast as the dominant Delta variant and had the potential to evade treatments and vaccines. Banning travel from southern Africa, where the variant was discovered last week, would not stop the coronavirus from finding its way to the United States, the officials told Mr. Biden, even though Britain and several other countries had announced similar restrictions. But the measures might slow the spread. (Shear and Stolberg, 11/29)

Reuters: U.S. Steps Up Search For Omicron Variant In Domestic COVID-19 Cases
The United States is enhancing its COVID-19 surveillance to distinguish domestic cases of the Omicron variant from the still-dominant Delta, the head of the association of state-run public health laboratories told Reuters on Monday. The new variant, first identified in southern Africa last week, has since been detected in 10 other countries. U.S. officials say it is only a matter of time before it turns up in the country. Omicron has prompted new alarm due to an unusual number of mutations that suggest it may reduce vaccine protection, though much remains unknown. Countries worldwide are scrambling to understand the prevalence of the new version of coronavirus within their borders. (Steenhuysen, 11/29)

The Hill: US Braces For Omicron To Hit
“If you are vaccinated but still worried about the new variant, get your booster,” Biden said. “If you aren’t vaccinated, get that shot, go get that first shot.” The president called on individuals to wear masks “indoors in public settings around other people” but did not issue a call for states and localities to reimpose mask mandates that many have shed in recent months. Monica Gandhi, an infectious diseases expert at the University of California, San Francisco, said vaccinations are “the main strategy to fight this.” “I see no other strategy,” she said. “I was very glad [Biden] didn't mention school closures or lockdowns.” (Sullivan, 11/29)

In New York —

Bloomberg: Omicron Variant: NYC Recommends Indoor Mask Wearing
The health advisory stops short of a mandate but signifies officials’ trepidation of a new Covid-19 wave as the omicron variant spreads around the world and New York sees an increase in post-Thanksgiving Covid cases. Previously, the city had recommended masks. “This strengthens our recommendation and it helps to clear up some of the confusion that we know has existed around guidance related to face coverings,” City Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi said at a briefing. “We want to deliver a very clear and unequivocal message that everyone should be masking indoors regardless of their vaccination status.” (Chen, 11/29)

The Hill: NYC Officials Recommend Masks Indoors, But Won't Reimpose Mandates
New York City officials said Monday that they do not immediately plan to reimpose an indoor mask requirement due to the omicron coronavirus variant, but are "strongly" recommending people wear masks indoors in public spaces. Dave Chokshi, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said there's still a lot about the variant scientists don't know, but it's important for people to be vaccinated. (Weixel, 11/29)