While the Omicron variant accounted for 73% of all sequenced Covid-19 cases in the US, surging from around 3% last week reports claiming that the country will go for a complete lockdown surfaced. Responding over the same, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that US President Joe Biden had no plans of imposing a lockdown as the country is not in the same place that it was during the start of the pandemic.
In some pockets of the US, Omicron accounts for nearly all new infections. The variant made up an estimated 92% of cases in New York and New Jersey, the CDC estimate showed, and 96% in Washington state. The US is urging those who are eligible to get vaccinated and to seek out booster shots to ward off Omicron.