Move Over, Delta: Omicron Is Officially The Dominant Strain In The US
The variant was to blame for 73% of new covid infections last week. Meanwhile, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pleaded for in-person Christmas events to be canceled. "An event canceled is better than a life canceled," he said.
NPR:
Omicron Is Now The Dominant COVID Strain In The U.S., Making Up 73% Of New Infections
The omicron variant is now considered the most dominant version of the coronavirus — making up 73% of new COVID-19 infections last week in the U.S., according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday. The new estimates capture cases for the week that ended on Dec. 18. The new estimates underscore just how rapidly it has spread across the U.S. As of a week prior, Dec. 11, it was only detected in 12.6% of positive COVID-19 cases that were sampled. The CDC said it was working on revising some of the earlier numbers after officials finish analyzing more samples of the strain. (Franklin, 12/20)
Stat:
Omicron Variant Now Makes Up 73% Of Covid Infections Diagnosed In U.S.
The Omicron variant now accounts for 73% of Covid-19 infections being diagnosed in the United States, and in some parts of the country 90% of infections are caused by viruses from the Omicron strain, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said late Monday. Though it’s been clear from Omicron’s astonishing spread elsewhere that it would rapidly take over from Delta as the dominant variant in this country, the speed is nevertheless startling to witness. “What we are watching unfold is microbial evolution. This is remarkable,” said Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Policy. “But this is what these viruses can do.” (Branswell, 12/20)
Also —
The Washington Post:
WHO says holiday events should be canceled amid omicron spread
The director general of the World Health Organization on Monday urged people to cancel upcoming events as part of a global effort to avoid “increased cases, overwhelmed health systems and more deaths” over the holiday season amid the spread of the omicron variant. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’s remarks to journalists come as the new variant is quickly infecting more and more people just before the Christmas holiday. At least 48 U.S. states and 89 countries have reported cases. An unvaccinated Houston-area man in his 50s is believed to be the first to die in the United States after being infected by omicron. (Jeong and Francis, 12/21)
CNN:
'An Event Canceled Is Better Than A Life Canceled,' WHO Chief Warns
It might be time to rethink your festive plans, the World Health Organization has warned amid a rising number of cases of the coronavirus caused by the Omicron variant. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the pandemic might mean canceling in-person events over the holiday period, adding that "an event canceled is better than a life canceled." (Kottasova and Langmaid, 12/21)
