White House: Omicron BA.2 COVID variant has circulated in U.S. for some time

[March 15, 2022]    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Monday that the Omicron BA.2 sub-variant of COVID-19 had been circulating in the United States for some time, with roughly 35,000 cases at the moment, and more money was needed to help fight it.

A 3D-printed coronavirus model is seen in front of the words coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on display in this illustration taken March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said the tools the country had, including vaccines and medicines, were all effective tools against the virus.

"We need additional COVID funding," Psaki said, referring to a White House request for more money from Congress. "Some programs, if we don't get funding, could abruptly end or need to be pared back and that could impact how we are able to respond to any variant."

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Jeff Mason)

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