The new Omicron variant is rapidly spreading in the US, with 92% of cases reported in New York and New Jersey.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 73% of cases detected during the period from December 12 to 18 in the US have tested positive for the Omicron variant, as compared to only 7.9% positive cases for the Delta variant.
The US leads the world in the daily average number of new deaths reported, accounting for one in every 5 deaths reported worldwide each day.
COVID-19 cases are increasing, with 144,967 new infections reported on average each day, representing a 58% peak, according to the latest Reuters’ COVID Tracker, released on December 21.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said the Omicron variant spreads faster than the Delta variant, though it causes less severe symptoms.
A recent study issued by a group of British researchers found that the Omicron variant may be less effective at attacking the lungs compared to the other COVID-19 variants, since the mutation in the Spike protein makes it immune to antibodies, possibly limiting how it multiplies in the lungs and causing less severe symptoms.
Another study led by a group of researchers in Hong Kong showed that the Omicron variant multiplies faster in the airways, but less rapidly in the lungs, which would explain its rapid spread among people compared to previous variants and its lack of severe symptoms.
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