Omicron now makes up virtually 3% of U.S. Covid circumstances, in keeping with the CDC

The omicron Covid-19 variant first detected in southern Africa a few month in the past now makes up about 3% of circumstances sequenced within the U.S., in keeping with knowledge from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

Whereas the delta variant nonetheless dominates the U.S. at about 97% of all Covid circumstances analyzed, omicron is rapidly gaining floor. The brand new variant represented an estimated 2.9% of all circumstances sequenced final week, up from 0.4% the earlier week, in keeping with the CDC.

Greater than two dozen states have reported omicron circumstances to this point. California was first to substantiate an omicron case within the U.S. on Dec. 1 in a resident who flew into San Francisco from South Africa. However the CDC on Friday mentioned they’ve confirmed an earlier case of omicron in a affected person who developed signs on Nov. 15. It is not clear when the variant first arrived within the U.S.

The CDC on Friday mentioned one vaccinated particular person has been hospitalized with omicron, however no deaths have been reported among the many 43 sufferers which have been adopted up on. The most typical signs to this point are cough, fatigue, congestion and a runny nostril.

Amongst these sufferers, 58% had been between the ages of 18 and 39 years of age and 79% had been totally vaccinated at the least 14 days earlier than symptom onset or testing constructive.

The CDC reported that 33% of the 43 sufferers traveled internationally throughout the 14 days previous to creating signs or testing constructive, indicating that group unfold is underway within the U.S.

Scientists and public well being specialists have mentioned omicron may be very contagious, although little is thought about whether or not the variant causes extra delicate or extra extreme illness than delta. The UK issued a degree 4 Covid alert on Sunday, a step beneath the best warning degree. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday confirmed the primary omicron loss of life within the U.Okay. on Monday, warning that Britain faces a “tidal wave” of omicron infections.

U.Okay. Well being Secretary Sajid Javid mentioned on Monday that omicron is spreading at a “phenomenal charge” with circumstances doubling each few days. Final week, Javid warned that the U.Okay. faces greater than 1 million omicron circumstances by yr finish.

CDC Director Rochelle Walenksy mentioned on Friday that the U.S. shouldn’t be dealing with the identical pressing timeline because the U.Okay. on omicron. “I do not anticipate might be on the identical time horizon as U.Okay. and we’re persevering with to comply with circumstances and we’ll take a look at that rigorously,” she mentioned throughout a White Home Covid replace on Friday.

Nonetheless, Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Heart for Infectious Illness Analysis and Coverage on the College of Minnesota, believes omicron will possible overtake delta within the U.S. quickly.

“It is only a matter of time earlier than omicron turns into the dominant variant right here, and I feel that would occur comparatively rapidly,” Osterholm instructed CNBC on Thursday.

The U.S. is reporting almost 120,00 new circumstances per day, primarily based on a seven-day common of information compiled by Johns Hopkins College, flat over the previous week however up 25% from earlier than Thanksgiving

About 66,500 Individuals are hospitalized with Covid-19, in keeping with a seven-day common of Division of Well being and Human Companies knowledge via Monday, up 22% over the previous two weeks. Although rising, that’s nonetheless decrease than the delta wave’s peak when greater than 100,000 sufferers had been hospitalized with the virus in early September.