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 Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have jumped 45% over the last month,
and confirmed cases have increased 40% to a weeklong average of
123,000 new U.S. infections a day, according to a Reuters tally.
Pfizer Inc, one of the chief vaccine makers, on Friday predicted the
pandemic would last until 2024 and said a lower-dose version of its
vaccine for children ages 2 to 4 generated a weaker-than-expected
immune response, which could delay authorization.
The National Football League rescheduled three weekend games after
multiple teams were hard hit by outbreaks.
The National Hockey League added another game to its recent list of
postponements, heightening doubts about the league's plan to send
the world's top players to the Beijing Olympics in February.
In New York City, Radio City Music Hall announced it has canceled
all remaining dates of the Rockettes' annual Christmas Spectacular
"due to increasing challenges from the pandemic," after staging more
than 100 shows over the past seven weeks.
The Michael Jackson musical "MJ" on Broadway canceled performances
through Dec. 27, joining other Broadway productions that have called
off shows after cast and crew members tested positive.
The Omicron variant appears to be far more transmissible than
previous iterations of the virus, and more agile in evading immune
defenses, according to early studies.
Public health officials say it is likely to become the dominant
variant in the country, following fast-moving spreads in countries
such as South Africa and the United Kingdom, and could strain
hospitals still struggling to contain this summer's Delta variant
surge.
"GET BOOSTED NOW. Tidal wave of Omicron likely coming to a hospital
near you soon," Dr. Tom Frieden, former chief of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), posted on Twitter.
Preliminary data in South Africa suggests Omicron leads to milder
illness than the Delta variant, which is still driving much of the
current wave of infections. But a British study released on Friday
found no difference in severity between the two variants.
Either way, Omicron's extraordinary level of infectiousness means it
could cause many additional deaths, the top U.S. infectious disease
expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said on Friday.
"When you have a larger number of people getting infected, the total
amount of hospitalizations is going to be more. That's just simple
math," Fauci told CNBC.
Fauci also said officials are discussing whether to redefine what it
means to be "fully vaccinated" to include booster shots.
[to top of second column] |
 PULLING THE PLUG?
The latest surge is creating yet another round
of disruptions to daily life, though widespread
lockdowns of workplaces and social gatherings
have not been put in place.
A federal appeals court on Friday reinstated a
nationwide vaccine-or-testing COVID-19 mandate
for large businesses - an Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (OSHA) rule that
covers 80 million American workers.
Some Americans have reconsidered holiday plans.
Winifred Donoghue, a New York City advertising
writer, canceled a Jan. 8 disco party at her
family's vacation home in Highland Lakes, New
Jersey, that was intended to be a joint
celebration of her 60th birthday and the new
year.
"Two weeks ago, everyone was boosted. Then the
infections went up exponentially," she said. "By
January, who is going to feel safe? I just
pulled the plug on it."
Eric Hrubant, the chief executive of CIRE
Travel, said he hadn't yet seen a wave of
cancellations, as he did in August when the
Delta variant swept the country. But worried
clients have inundated the agency with calls
about new COVID-19 protocols, such as mandatory
travel quarantines.
"People aren't panicking," he said. "People are
making educated decisions."
Several states have hit alarming levels of cases
and hospitalizations. The U.S. states reporting
the highest seven-day average of infections were
New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois and
Michigan, according to a Reuters tally.
In Ohio, exhausted hospital workers will be
getting some help starting on Monday from 1,050
National Guard troops – including 150 nurses,
emergency medical technicians and others with
medical training, Governor Mike DeWine said on
Friday.
The CDC released a new "test-to-stay" strategy
on Friday that allows unvaccinated children to
remain in school even if they are exposed to the
virus.
The protocol is intended to replace automatic
quarantines, which have required tens of
thousands of students to miss school days this
fall.
(Reporting by Joseph Ax in Princeton, New
Jersey, and Barbara Goldberg in Maplewood, New
Jersey; Additional reporting by Nandita Bose,
Carl O'Donnell, Roshan Abraham, Jill Serjeant,
Susan Heavey, Caroline Humer, Mrinalika Roy,
Leroy Leo and Frank Pingue; Editing by Howard
Goller, Cynthia Osterman and Sonya Hepinstall)
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