"The recent increase in COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the omicron option are posing negative risks to employment and economic activity, as well as growing uncertainty over inflation," Powell quoted Powell's affidavit to the Senate as quoted by RIA Novosti.
Rising concerns over the new virus could diminish people's willingness to work from the office, he said, risking a slowdown in labor market progress.
Earlier, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on governments to strengthen control measures due to the situation with the spread of the new strain of the coronavirus "omicron".