What we know — and don’t know — about the omicron variant

As cases of infection with the omicron variant of the coronavirus multiply around the world, scientists are racing to characterize the heavily mutated variant to understand how it spreads and gauge new risks during this wave of the pandemic.

Preliminary studies released this month have offered some clues about the effectiveness of vaccines against the omicron variant and whether it causes more severe illness, but much remains uncertain, and more research is needed. 

British surge seen as warning on omicron but responses vary | AP News LONDON (AP) — Spiraling infections in Britain driven in part by the new omicron variant of the coronavirus rattled many in Europe on Thursday, fueling a familiar dread that tighter restrictions will scuttle holiday plans again this year. AP NEWS

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CDC data indicate Omicron is starting to eat into Delta's U.S. dominance New CDC data show that the Omicron coronavirus variant is starting to eat into the Delta variant’s dominance in the U.S. Andrew Joseph STAT

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To Fight the Global Covid-19 Pandemic, We Need a Global Game Plan The U.S. makes a huge mistake if it thinks its fate can be walled off from the rest of the world Larry Brilliant WSJ

For many months in 2020, Covid-19 was the No. 1 cause of death in the U.S. And deaths this year have already surpassed last year.

Americans tend to see this pandemic through the lens of American losses. But neither the original virus nor the five Greek-lettered variants of concern began in the U.S. Wherever the next more-infectious variants begin, they will inevitably circle the globe.

European Union starts drive to vaccinate children against COVID Six-year-old Johanna squeezed her eyes shut as she received her first coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday at the Bethesda children's hospital in the Hungarian capital Budapest. Clara-Laeila Laudette,Nathan Allen,Krisztina Freyo Reuters

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Integrating Primary Care and Public Health to Save Lives | Report Integrating Primary Care and Public Health to Save Lives and Improve Practice During Public Health Crises: Lessons from COVID-19 Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security

The Center released a new report finding that the failure to bring primary care providers into a frontline role as responders to the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the public health system, resulted in many missed opportunities.