Biden tamps down on omicron alarm, poushes up on vaccinations

Biden tamps down omicron alarm, urges vaccinations President Biden on Tuesday sought to tamp down worries about the omicron coronavirus variant, underscoring that COVID-19 vaccines protect against severe illness from the virus. Morgan Chalfant TheHill

President Biden on Tuesday sought to tamp down worries about the omicron coronavirus variant, underscoring that COVID-19 vaccines protect against severe illness from the virus.

Speaking before a briefing with his COVID-19 advisers at the White House, Biden said that the U.S. has the tools to protect Americans from severe illness from the virus. He also advocated to keep schools open at a time when cases are rising and some school districts are opting to start the year remote once again.

“Folks, I know we’re all tired and frustrated about the pandemic. These coming weeks are going to be challenging. Please wear your mask in public to protect yourself and others. We’re going to get through this,” Biden said. “We have the tools to protect people from severe illness due to omicron if people choose to use the tools.”

The U.S. reported over 1 million COVID-19 cases on Monday, driven up in part by backlogs over the New Year’s holiday. The U.S. is now averaging over 480,000 daily COVID-19 infections.

Hospitals in some states have been overwhelmed, forcing the federal government to send personnel to help with the surge in cases.

Maryland’s Republican governor, Larry Hogan, declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, citing projections that COVID-19 hospitalizations could exceed 5,000.

There is some promising news when it comes to the protection that COVID-19 vaccines offer against omicron, however. Thus far, data has shown that vaccines and booster doses protect against severe disease from the omicron variant.

That’s why Biden and government health experts are urging Americans who have not done so to get vaccinated, and those who are eligible for booster doses to get them as soon as possible. Currently, about 66 percent of eligible adult Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and roughly one-third have received a booster dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Biden also announced plans to double the federal government's purchases of Pfizer’s COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid to 20 million courses, but he cautioned that it would take months for the pills to be produced and available. ...