Omicron Spreads, But Delta Still A Big Threat

New Strain Now In 11 US States But CDC Says Delta Top Concern; UK Sees Rise In Covid Prevalence Led By Delta; IMF Says Latest Variant May Dent Growth

With cases of the Omicron variant now recorded from New York to Hawaii, health officials across the US say that community spread of the virus is inevitable. Six more US states confirmed infections of the variant on Friday but the Delta strain likely remains a greater threat as winter sets in, experts said.

New Jersey, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Utah each reported their first cases of Omicron variant on Friday. Omicron has been detected in about 40 countries, including the US, where it has been previously found in five states — California, Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota, New York. Scientists are still investigating the impact of the highly contagious Omicron variant, which was first detected in South Africa. Early evidence has suggested it may cause milder illness than its predecessors, including Delta. The outbreak of Omicron has prompted world leaders to impose new Covid-19 restrictions. But the predominant US strain remains Delta, CDC director Rochelle Walensky said.