• US, Omicron is dominant: New Year's Eve in Times Square is skipped, a member of Biden's staff is positive

  • WHO, Omicron in 89 countries: cases double in 1.5-3 days

  • Great Britain: Omicron cases tripled in one day, lockdown after Christmas?

  • Fauci: Omicron "rages in the world", travel increases the risks

  • Omicron, Holland goes into lockdown.

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    The world is locked up against Omicron: from the UK plan C to the lockdown in the Netherlands

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December 21, 2021

"We must be worried about the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid 19, but there is no reason to panic. It is not like in 2020, today a large part of the population is vaccinated", says the American president as it is evening in Italy. Joe Biden. 



The Omicron variant is rampant in the United States. It now accounts for 73% of new infections, therefore three out of four cases, and forces Joe Biden to review his plans. Thus, speaking to the nation on live TV, the president launches a real winter campaign against the virus, but trying not to create alarmism. No new lockdowns that jeopardize Christmas and the economic recovery, therefore, but an all-out action on the vaccination front and the spread of Covid tests.



"The unvaccinated have good reason to be concerned, while the vaccinated and the booster, far fewer, will be able to spend the end of the year holidays as scheduled," said the US president. "Those who do not get vaccinated risk becoming more seriously ill and risking death," Biden said. 




 "Those who are vaccinated and booster should not upset their end-of-year party plans," his message, as millions of Americans already flock to airports. This is despite the numbers appearing increasingly disturbing. On Monday, about 254 thousand new infections were registered in America, never so many since September. And what is worrying above all is the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the north-east of the country, the most populated, with New York having seen cases triple in just one week (640% more in the last month), risking to become the epicenter again. of the pandemic. So much so that Mayor Bill de Blasio is considering canceling or heavily downsizing even the iconic New Year's Eve event in Times Square.   



The plan developed by the administration to deal with the emergency provides for the deployment of another thousand soldiers in hospitals to cope with the surge in hospitalizations, with the sending of doctors, specialists, paramedics and nurses by the Pentagon. At least 500 million rapid anti-Covid tests are on the way, which will be distributed for free, even if only starting in January. They can also be ordered online and sent directly to your home without paying anything.



The president, therefore, reserves the right to resort to a war law, the Defense Production Act of 1950, to accelerate the production of the tests that are beginning to be scarce throughout the country.



Among other measures announced by Biden also the construction of new vaccination centers for the administration of doses by federal personnel, starting from New York where the first sites will open by Christmas.   



In Texas, the first Omicron victim


Meanwhile, in Texas there is the first American victim of the Omicron variant, a man in his 50s who was not vaccinated and who had already been infected by Covid in recent months.

While the virus, which has frightened Congress in recent days with several cases between deputies and senators, also returns to threaten the White House.

A staff member who last Friday was in contact at least half an hour with the president aboard Air Force One was in fact positive, despite having already received the booster.

Immediately tested Biden instead tested negative.