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Epidemics

Omicron Variant Spreads Globally, Vaccinated Population Protected But Not Entirely

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Experts warn that the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, with the Omicron variant spreading rapidly around the world. According to infectious disease experts, the variant has already been detected in several European countries, the UK, Israel, Hong Kong, and Canada, and it's likely to be found in the US in the coming days.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Omicron variant has been identified in several European countries, the UK, Israel, Hong Kong, and Canada, and is likely to spread to the US in the coming days.
  • The variant has many mutations, which could make it more transmissible and difficult to control.
  • Vaccinated people are likely to be protected against Omicron, but it's not clear how much protection they will have.
  • Scientists are testing plasma from vaccinated people to see if it can neutralize the new variant.
  • Doctors are tracking cases to get a sense of the severity of the variant.
  • Vaccine-makers are already working on developing an Omicron-specific booster, if needed.
  • Cases caused by the Delta variant were rising before Thanksgiving, and the holiday travel season may accelerate this trend.
  • Public health experts expect a surge of cases in the coming weeks, particularly in the Upper Midwest and the Northeast.
  • Travelers should get tested if they notice symptoms, and use PCR tests or rapid antigen tests like the Abbott BinaxNOW tests.
  • Ghislaine Maxwell, accused of sex trafficking and participating in the abuse of underage girls with Jeffrey Epstein, will go on trial today.
  • Maxwell's defense is expected to argue that she cannot get a fair trial due to pre-trial publicity and that she has been found guilty in the court of public opinion.
  • At least four women who claim to have been underage victims of Maxwell will testify against her, but one prominent accuser, Virginia Guiffre, will not participate.
  • Virgil Abloh, fashion designer and artistic director of Louis Vuitton, has died at the age of 41 after a long battle with a rare heart cancer.

Statistics:

  • The US was averaging about 94,000 new cases per day just before Thanksgiving, and the holiday travel season may accelerate this trend.
  • Cases caused by the Delta variant have been rising in the US for weeks leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday.
  • Omicron has been identified in several European countries, the UK, Israel, Hong Kong, and Canada, with at least two cases in Ontario, Canada.
  • The Omicron variant is expected to spread rapidly, with public health experts anticipating a substantial increase in cases over the next several weeks.
  • Vaccinated people may have some protection against Omicron, but it's not clear how much.

Sources:

  • Allison Aubrey, NPR
  • Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
  • Scott Gottlieb, former FDA Commissioner
  • Ghislaine Maxwell, accused of sex trafficking and participating in the abuse of underage girls with Jeffrey Epstein
  • Virgil Abloh, fashion designer and artistic director of Louis Vuitton
  • Jasmine Garsd, NPR correspondent
  • Karen Grigsby Bates, senior correspondent with NPR's Code Switch podcast

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