US coronavirus: Officials urge vaccination in light of Omicron concerns, with experts warning even mild Covid infections pose a greater risk of mutating

In the case of Omicron variant has been confirmed in at least 18 countries and territories as of Tuesday. And although no cases have been found in the US, officials are working to do what they can before the expected variant emerges.

Be aware of the following rampant increase in coronavirus cases holiday last year, state and local leaders are worried that current infection rates have facilitated another surge, with or without new variants. Nationwide infection levels have yet to return to their summer lows, left unattended by a cluster of cases largely triggered by the spread of the virus. Delta variant, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Citing “hot spots” in the western and northern parts of the state, New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned Monday that “the winter surge could be here, or we’re just getting started.”

Cases and hospitalizations are trending up, she said, and the Omicron variant could contribute to a reduction in the number of available hospital beds.

“If this new variant occurs like a hurricane, and vaccines and boosters don’t fight it as much as we hope it will – and we don’t have enough data right now. – then we will consider Hochul said.

Dr. Jorge E. Rodriguez, an internal medicine specialist and CNN medical analyst, said that people who are not vaccinated often take longer to beat the infection back and need to be vaccinated.

“The virus mutates when people get infected. It doesn’t mutate in the air, so even though you were infected and you did well, guess what. You most likely contributed to the more powerful mutations. , so there He said:

Get your booster, CDC urges

Previously, the agency said people should get a booster shot if they’re 50 or older, or 18 or older and living in long-term care. Otherwise, it advises that anyone 18 years of age or older can get a booster shot. Now the word “should” applies to everyone 18 years of age and older.

“I strongly encourage the 47 million unvaccinated adults to get vaccinated as soon as possible and vaccinate both children and adolescents in their families, because strong immunity prevents disease. serious,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

“The best chance we have of banishing the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health.

“Of course, we still have a serious increase in the Delta variant in the US, we should be thinking about that,” he told CNN’s Jim Sciutto on Monday. “Your best defense against Delta is vaccination, and if you’ve been vaccinated and six months have passed since you took Pfizer or Moderna, get a booster shot, two months from J&J ( Johnson & Johnson), get a booster shot.”

“That’s why, but now let’s add Omicron to the mix,” he said. “And we believe this new variant, which may be coming to our shores, will also be the kind of vaccine and booster that can help you.”

Travel restrictions established as Omicron is studied

The Omicron variant has become the dominant strain of coronavirus in South Africa – where scientists first discovered and reported it – less than two weeks after it was first discovered. In contrast, the Delta variant took several months to become the dominant strain there earlier this year.

However, at least one health expert says the travel ban is not really working to stop the spread of coronavirus variants.

“I think this is really an illusion of protection,” CNN medical analyst Dr Jonathan Reiner, professor of medicine and surgery at George Washington University, told CNN’s Kate Bolduan on Monday. . “The metaphor I’ve been using – it’s like locking a mesh door. You feel like you’ve done something to protect yourself, but you haven’t.”

“I’m not sure what this ban will accomplish, other than adding some incentive to other countries that may be looking to sequence and identify robust variants,” Reiner said. “This might encourage those countries to, you know, step back from that a little bit because no good deed goes unpunished.”

“I think we’ll get some information on transmissibility and severity in the coming days, maybe a week or two,” Van Kerkhove said, adding, “I’d like to take the opportunity.” This is to thank the amazing scientists in South Africa who have been so outspoken in sharing this information with us.”