Omicron now dominant COVID-19 variant in New Hampshire

CONCORD, N.H. —

The omicron variant is rapidly spreading in New Hampshire, health officials said Tuesday, noting that more than 90% of COVID-19 specimens tested Monday showed evidence of the new variant.

The omicron variant has quickly spread around the world, but it was slower to show up in New Hampshire than in other parts of the United States. Health officials said that last week, the estimated proportion of specimens identified as omicron increased from 30-40% to 75%, fore rising over 90% Monday.

Health officials said Monday that active cases of COVID-19 rose to 17,208, the highest ever in New Hampshire. Hospitalizations increased slightly to 377, about 100 less than they were a month ago.  ...

Omicron now dominant COVID-19 variant in New Hampshire

CONCORD, N.H. — The omicron variant is rapidly spreading in New Hampshire, health officials said Tuesday, noting that more than 90% of COVID-19 specimens tested Monday showed evidence of the new variant.

The omicron variant has quickly spread around the world, but it was slower to show up in New Hampshire than in other parts of the United States. Health officials said that last week, the estimated proportion of specimens identified as omicron increased from 30-40% to 75%, before rising over 90% Monday.

Health officials said Monday that active cases of COVID-19 rose to 17,208, the highest ever in New Hampshire. Hospitalizations increased slightly to 377, about 100 less than they were a month ago. ...

The nation's blood supply is dangerously low, prompting the Red Cross to announce a national blood crisis for the first time. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a decline in donor turnout, the cancellation of blood drives and staffing challenges, leading to the worst blood shortage in more than a decade, the Red Cross said. Last year, the Red Cross saw a 34% decline in new donors.  

WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday criticized politicians who refuse to say whether they’ve received a Covid booster shot.

In an interview with far-right cable channel One America News, Trump said he received the booster and has seen politicians get asked in interviews whether they’ve also gotten a third shot.

The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it would provide schools with 10 million Covid-19 tests every month as it urges districts to keep classrooms open amid a widespread shortage of testing kits.

The White House said it will distribute 5 million rapid tests to schools every month. It also vowed to make the capacity for an additional 5 million PCR tests available through a Department of Health and Human Services program that collects samples and sends them to labs.