The Omnicron Variant Arrives in the U.S. as COVID Cases Surge Yet Again

The first Omnicron variant of COVID-19 has reached the United States. The individual in question is a resident of California who returned from South Africa on November 22nd. Three days later, South African doctors revealed the Omnicron variant. The individual developed systems was tested on November 28th with a positive test coming on November 29th. 

This news comes as COVID is once again on the rise with Massachusetts recording its highly daily case total since January while New York City is seeing its highest hospitalization and death rates in 7 months. How much worse will the Omnicron variant make things?

Will Omnicron spread as quickly as the Delta variant?

Will it affect people under the age of 65 as much as people over the age of 65?

Will it result in increased hospitalizations and once again overburden the health care system?

Will our current vaccine regime withstand Omnicron?

And what of the nearly 40% of the U.S. population which refuses to be vaccinated?

It is utterly appalling that Republican Governors who refused to participate in President Biden's enhanced unemployment benefits program are perfectly happy to boost unemployment benefits to those who were fired from or quit their jobs as a result of refusing vaccines. Republican Governors and legislatures are now incentivizing vaccine resistance and otherwise self-destructive behavior.

I would plead to God help us, but we are on our own.