Now the predominant variant – “We all have a date with Omikron”
RKI tightens risk assessment for people who have been vaccinated twice and those who have recovered
Omikron has spread rapidly in the US and UK. A similar development is also expected in Germany. That is why the RKI classifies the risk for people who have been vaccinated twice and those who have recovered as “high”.
Last week, the US authorities assumed a low proportion of Omikron among the corona cases. Now the rate has skyrocketed. Texas reports the first omicron death. Researchers warn that everyone will come into contact with the variant.
THEIn the USA, mikron has developed into the predominant Corona variant within a short period of time. It is estimated that Omikron accounted for around 73 percent of the new corona cases in the past week, according to data on the CDC website on Monday. With a view to this sudden increase, US President Joe Biden wanted to address the people in the country with a speech on Tuesday and announce new measures.
The main focus here is on support for hospitals – a shutdown of public life was not assumed.
Omikron has now pushed Delta, the previously predominant variant, to second place. According to the CDC estimates, the delta mutant made up about a quarter of new infections recently. In some states, Omikron is responsible for more than 90 percent of the cases. In the week up to December 11th, Omikron was estimated to be responsible for only around 12.6 percent of infections in the United States.
US President Joe Biden (here with his advisor, immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci) will address the nation on Tuesday
What: REUTERS
According to ABC, the US state of Texas reported the first death related to the Omicron variant. The station reported, citing Harris County health officials. It is believed to be the first confirmed death of the virus variant in the United States, the report said.
Similar rapid developments are likely to be ahead in Germany
“This sharp increase is similar to what can be observed in other countries,” said the head of the CDC, Rochelle Walensky. A similarly rapid development is likely to be ahead in Germany: According to the new Corona Expert Council of the federal government, the omicron incidence doubles every two to four days.
“We all have dates with Omikron,” said researcher Amesh Adalja of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “If you interact with society, if you have any life, you will hit Omikron, and the best way to counter that is by being fully vaccinated.”
“The Omikron cases will increase in the coming days – even among fully vaccinated people,” warned President Biden. Anyone who has been fully vaccinated or has already received a booster vaccination could still be infected – but will likely have no or only mild symptoms. “If, as an adult, you choose not to be vaccinated, you will have an extremely difficult winter for your family and community,” warned Biden.
Biden tested negative after first contact
Biden himself was in contact with a White House person on Friday who later tested positive for the virus. At 79, he already belongs to a risk group purely in terms of age.
According to his spokeswoman, Biden was last tested negative for the corona virus on Sunday and Monday. A new test is planned for Wednesday. The President will stick to his program for the coming days and not isolate himself as he is fully vaccinated.
After the USA had to deal with a violent delta wave in the summer, the number of new infections fell temporarily in September. But it has been rising again since October – particularly strongly in the past few days. More than 800,000 people have died of corona infection in the United States since the pandemic began.
The vaccination campaign got off to a good start in the USA, but is now making slow progress. So far, 61.5 percent of the approximately 330 million people in the country have been vaccinated twice. Almost 30 percent of them also received a booster vaccination. So far, the White House has cited the omicron variant as a cause for concern but not a cause for panic.
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