The omicron variant of the coronavirus will continue to spread in the United States over the next few weeks, and it’s not something to ignore, said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Walensky said Wednesday that she expects omicron cases to spike in the next couple of days. The surge, she said, could last for months.
- “In looking at early data on (the) transmissibility of omicron from other countries, we expect to see the proportion of omicron cases here in the United States continue to grow in the coming weeks,” Walensky said. “Early data suggest that omicron is more transmissible than delta, with a doubling time of about two days.”
Walensky called on the American people to get fully vaccinated or receive their booster shot to protect themselves from the omicron variant.
- “What does this mean for individuals and families as we head into the winter months — a time when families may be gathering with one another over the holidays? It means that it is vital for everyone to get vaccinated and boosted if they are eligible,” she said.
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Walensky’s comments come after the CDC issued a prediction that the U.S. will see a wave of omicron variant cases in January, according to The Washington Post.
- The surge of omicron variant cases will tag team with both the delta variant and influenza, which will increase the number of ill people in the United States, officials said.