Former Biden COVID-19 adviser: 'Viral blizzard' about to hit the US | TheHill - The Hill

A former COVID-19 adviser for President BidenJoe BidenFlorida man kicked off United flight for using underwear as mask in protest On The Money — Presented by Citi — Build Back Better...late than never? Overnight Energy & Environment — Biden releases lead plan MORE's transition on Thursday warned of a “viral blizzard” that is about to hit the U.S. as COVID-19 cases rise and concerns about the omicron variant continue to fester.

Michael Osterholm, who served on Biden’s coronavirus advisory team during the transition, said in an appearance on CNN that the health care system could be overwhelmed as omicron becomes more prevalent in the U.S.

"I think we're really just about to experience a viral blizzard," Osterholm told CNN's Erin Burnett. "I think in the next three to eight weeks, we're going to see millions of Americans are going to be infected with this virus, and that will be overlaid on top of delta, and we're not yet sure exactly how that's going to work out."

"What you have here right now is a potential perfect storm," Osterholm said. "I've been very concerned about the fact that we could easily see a quarter or a third of our health care workers quickly becoming cases themselves."

Omicron was discovered near the end of November in South Africa and, despite quick action from the U.S. to ban travel from areas where the variant was prevalent, the new strain has been found in dozens of states. 

Early studies of the virus show it is more transmissible than the previous delta variant, but possibly less severe. 

Infectious diseases expert Anthony FauciAnthony FauciOvernight Health Care — Presented by Rare Access Action Project — CDC advises Pfizer, Moderna shots over J&J Biden warns of winter with 'severe illness and death' for unvaccinated Former top FDA officials accuse Biden admin of 'sidelining' experts MORE said omicron will soon be “dominant” among COVID-19 cases in the country. 

Omicron "will assume a dominant role very soon, I would imagine within a period of a few weeks to as we go into January," Fauci said recently. 

"Besides the toll of suffering and death which will inevitably go up if in fact we have that convergence in the winter months of flu and omicron and delta, we could get our hospital systems overwhelmed," Fauci added.

Adblock test (Why?)

COVID-19 - Latest - Google News
December 17, 2021 at 07:56PM
https://ift.tt/3EbWtWE

Former Biden COVID-19 adviser: 'Viral blizzard' about to hit the US | TheHill - The Hill
COVID-19 - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/2VQ2gy8