Pouch: "Half of Some COVID-19 Cases in the US Are Omicron... It Will Be a Difficult Winter"

Biden's National Address on the 21st

Anthony Fauci, Director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] U.S. health authorities have described the transmissibility of the Omicron variant as 'tremendous' and predicted that the United States will face another major outbreak this winter.

Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), appeared on CNN on the 19th (local time) and said, "Omicron will soon rage (in the U.S.)."

Director Fauci warned, "In some areas, the proportion of Omicron infections among COVID-19 confirmed cases has surged to 30-50%," adding, "As winter deepens, the next 6 to 8 weeks will be a difficult winter."

U.S. health authorities see the high number of unvaccinated people as an even bigger problem. Fauci said, "Fifty million Americans have not yet been vaccinated," and expressed concern about hospital bed shortages and healthcare worker fatigue in regions with low vaccination rates. He emphasized, "Vaccines increase resistance to Omicron," and stressed, "It is essential to receive the second dose and booster shots."

As of this day, Omicron has been confirmed in all but four of the 51 U.S. states. Amid the rapid spread in the U.S., President Joe Biden will deliver a related national address on the 21st. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated, "We will announce new measures to help communities in need due to the spread of Omicron, while also issuing a stern warning to those who have not been vaccinated."