Biden says totally vaccinated individuals can nonetheless safely rejoice the vacations as omicron spreads

President Joe Biden on Tuesday stated Individuals who’re totally vaccinated can safely rejoice the vacations, whilst because the omicron Covid variant quickly spreads throughout the U.S. and casts uncertainty over many individuals’s plans.

The president stated though many totally vaccinated individuals will get breakthrough infections within the coming weeks, they’re protected towards extreme sickness and loss of life. People who find themselves totally vaccinated, notably those that have additionally acquired a booster, have excessive ranges of safety towards hospitalization, he stated.

“We’ll see some totally vaccinated individuals get Covid, doubtlessly in giant numbers,” Biden stated. “There can be optimistic circumstances in each workplace, even right here within the White Home among the many vaccinated, however these circumstances are extremely unlikely to result in severe sickness.”

Nonetheless, Biden warned that people who find themselves unvaccinated have cause to fret about omicron. “You are at excessive danger of getting sick, and in the event you get sick you are prone to unfold it to others, together with households and pals,” the president stated.

“Omicron is severe and doubtlessly lethal enterprise for unvaccinated individuals,” Biden warned.

The president stated the U.S. is significantly better geared up immediately to struggle the virus than the nation was when the pandemic first hit. “This isn’t March of 2020,” Biden stated, the month when Covid led to lockdowns across the nation and a devastating surge in deaths in epicenters like New York Metropolis.

Biden rejected criticism that widespread shortages of at-home testing kits are signal that his administration failed to arrange for a surge in demand over the vacations.

This can be a creating story. Please test again for updates.