WASHINGTON – As more people travel and congregate for the holidays, Omicron has taken root as the main Covid-19 version in the United States.

According to the latest model estimates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Omicron infection cases accounted for 73.2 percent of all infection cases in the week ending December 18, up from 12.6 percent in the week ending December 11. (CDC)

Omicron accounted for only 0.7 percent of all infection cases at the start of this month. Since the first case in the US was discovered in California on December 1, Omicron has spread fast across the country, with cases reported in at least 48 US states as of Monday.

The Omicron variant's extraordinary infectiousness, as well as its potential capacity to bypass the immune system, have sparked fears across the country. However, preliminary data suggests that the new variant causes fewer severe symptoms and hospitalizations, according to experts.

In the United States, Covid-19 instances, deaths, and hospitalizations continued to rise, forcing the cancellation of major events such as sporting events and live concerts. To encourage students to return home earlier, some universities have returned to online classes and tests for the remaining semester.

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