Johns Hopkins University’s experts led the COVID-19 briefing, noting that the omicron variant has most certainly spread over the world already, but poor testing will continue to impede scientists’ ability to declare anything conclusive about the current strain for several more weeks.
During the Coronavirus Resource Center’s live briefing, it has been emphasized that infections are on the rise in the United States and around the world, particularly in Africa and Eastern Europe, where vaccination rates lag behind the rest of the world.
Key Takeaways:
- A COVID-19 briefing was led by experts from Johns Hopkins University, who noted that the omicron variant has already spread over the world.
- For several more weeks, poor testing will prevent scientists from declaring anything conclusive about the present strain.
- All individuals above the age of 18 should receive a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines, according to US authorities.
According to Jennifer Nuzzo, the epidemiology lead of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for Health Security, it is acceptable to presume the omicron variant is widespread.
However, how much of it there is, where it originated, or who it affects remain unclear because surveillance is restricted and perhaps biased, Nuzzo added.
As omicron spreads into older and more vulnerable populations, the scientific community’s understanding of it will shift.
Their data is highly imprecise because they are attempting to learn about this variant in real-time, but the virus that is still dominant is the delta variant.
According to Emily Pond, a research data analyst with the Center for Health Security, the number of cases in the United States has climbed by 6.1 percent in the last two weeks.
Despite the lack of testing and ambiguity concerning the omicron strain, U.S. authorities recommended that all adults over the age of 18 receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccinations.
Several pharmaceutical companies are exploring new vaccines to target the omicron variant, in addition to broadening who can receive booster injections.
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