<Anchor> It
has been predicted that the omicron mutation will become the dominant species in the United States in the next few weeks. The U.S. health authorities have encouraged vaccination, saying that the mutation of Omicron can be sufficiently controlled with a vaccine.
Correspondent Kim Jong-won from New York.
<Reporter> The
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicted that omicron mutations are spreading rapidly and will overtake delta mutations as the dominant species within the next few weeks.
There are still cases where existing vaccines do not prevent Omicron infection, but the CDC's analysis is that it is still sufficiently controllable.
[Michelle Wollensky / Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): I have seen that people who have been vaccinated, even those who have received a booster shot, are diagnosed with the Omicron mutation. However, due to the protective shield of the vaccine, I think that even if confirmed, there are mild or no symptoms.] The
White House also encouraged vaccination every day, saying that the vaccine can prevent the situation from worsening.
[Jeff Giants / White House Corona 19 Response Coordinator: Unlike last winter, now we have the power to protect ourselves. We know how to protect people, and we have the means to do so, so now is not the time to be confused.]
Although the number of confirmed cases, including Omicron, is growing rapidly, holiday travelers surged nearly 35% year-over-year As it is predicted that the number will exceed 100 million a year, concerns about large-scale infection are growing.
[Andrew Gross / National Automobile Association (AAA) Spokesperson: If you go to the airport, you will have to wait a very long time.
This year will be similar to the 2019 holiday before the start of the corona crisis.]
Meanwhile, in the UK, there were also more than 93,000 new confirmed cases, a record high.