COVID-19 Omicron Variant

Experts say it's not likely that the highly transmissible omicron variant — or any other variant — will lead us closer to herd immunity against COVID-19.

Experts say it's too early to know whether people infected with the omicron variant will develop long COVID. Doctors believe it's possible to have long-term effects from omicron.

Propelled in part by the wildly contagious omicron variant, the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 hit 900,000 on Friday, less than two months after eclipsing 800,000.

With the brutal omicron wave rapidly loosening its grip, new cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. are falling in 49 of 50 states, even as the nation's death toll closes in on another bleak round number: 900,000.

The differences between omicron and delta variant symptoms were analyzed as part of a COVD-19 infection survey.

Scientists stress that even if the findings of these early studies hold up, any reductions in severity need to be weighed against the fact omicron spreads much faster than delta and is more able to evade vaccines.

As the omicron variant continues to spread across the country, many events are getting canceled and businesses are closing.

“Thus far, it does not look like there’s a great degree of severity to it,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said.

Companies Pfizer and BioNTech are currently running tests in response to the rapidly spreading omicron variant with data likely available in the coming weeks.