Joe Biden says new Omicron variant is cause for concern not a cause for panic

President Joe Biden on Monday Links to an external site. said the new Omicron coronavirus variant Links to an external site. is "a cause for concern Links to an external site., not a cause for panic Links to an external site.," as federal health officials Links to an external site. brace for the first cases of the new variant Links to an external site. to be detected in the US Links to an external site..

"Sooner or later Links to an external site. we're going to see cases Links to an external site. of this new variant here Links to an external site. in the United State Links to an external site.s. We'll have to face this new threat Links to an external site. just as we face those Links to an external site. who have come before it Links to an external site.," Biden said, speaking from the White House Links to an external site..

Joe Biden says new Omicron variant is 'cause for concern, not a cause for panic'

Biden said on Thursday Links to an external site. he would put forward Links to an external site. a "detailed strategy outlining Links to an external site. how we're going to fight Covid this winter. Links to an external site. Not with shutdowns or lockdowns Links to an external site., but with more widespread vaccinations Links to an external site., boosters, testing and more Links to an external site.."

The President told reporters lockdowns Links to an external site. to prevent the spread Links to an external site. of the virus were off Links to an external site. the table "for now." Links to an external site.
"If people are vaccinated Links to an external site. and wear their mask Links to an external site., there's no need for lockdown Links to an external site.," Biden said.

The President again Links to an external site. urged Americans to get vaccinated Links to an external site. and get their booster shots Links to an external site., saying it is the best protection Links to an external site. against this new variant Links to an external site., as well as any other variants Links to an external site..

"We have the best vaccine Links to an external site. in the world, the best medicines Links to an external site., the best scientists Links to an external site., and we're learning more every single day Links to an external site.. And we'll fight this variant with scientific Links to an external site. and knowledgeable actions Links to an external site. and speed -- not chaos and confusion Links to an external site.," Biden said.

He continued Links to an external site.: "We have more tools today Links to an external site. to fight the variant Links to an external site. than we've ever had before Links to an external site., from vaccines to boosters Links to an external site. to vaccines for children Links to an external site., 5 years and older and much more Links to an external site.."

Biden was joined Links to an external site. on Monday by Vice President Kamala Harris Links to an external site. and his chief medical adviser Links to an external site., Dr. Anthony Fauci. Links to an external site.

Officials briefed Biden Links to an external site. for approximately 45 minutes Sunday Links to an external site. on the new variant Links to an external site. and again on Monday morning Links to an external site., with a heavy dose of caution Links to an external site. about what's still unknown Links to an external site.. Health officials say Links to an external site. there are likely far more cases worldwide Links to an external site. than is currently known Links to an external site..

Biden praised South African scientists Links to an external site. for their transparency Links to an external site. and quick work in identifying Links to an external site. and reporting the new variant Links to an external site..

Biden said to beat the pandemic Links to an external site., the world needs Links to an external site. to be vaccinated Links to an external site., and said the US has shipped Links to an external site. more than 275 million Covid-19 vaccines Links to an external site. to 110 countries Links to an external site..

"Now we need Links to an external site. the rest of the world Links to an external site. to step us as well Links to an external site.," Biden said.

Fauci said Sunday Links to an external site. that hopefully scientists Links to an external site. will be able to make a determination Links to an external site. soon on whether the Omicron variant Links to an external site. is resistant to current Links to an external site. Covid-19 vaccines Links to an external site.. It's also too soon to tell whether Links to an external site. Omicron causes Links to an external site. more severe disease Links to an external site..

Fauci said he doesn't think Links to an external site. there's any possibility Links to an external site. that Omicron could completely Links to an external site. evade any protection from the vaccine Links to an external site., but that it may Links to an external site. diminish the level of protection Links to an external site..

The Omicron variant Links to an external site. was the quickest Links to an external site. to be labeled a "variant of concern Links to an external site." by the World Health Organization Links to an external site. because of its seemingly fast spread Links to an external site. in South Africa and its many troubling mutations Links to an external site..

As omicron spreads across Links to an external site. the globe, White House press secretary Jen Psak Links to an external site.i said Monday, “we will continue Links to an external site. to assess what steps Links to an external site. we need to take to protect the American people Links to an external site..”

Some other nations Links to an external site. are reinstating severe travel Links to an external site. and business lockdowns Links to an external site. to prevent the omicron variant Links to an external site. from spreading, but Biden indicated the U.S. Links to an external site. was not following suit Links to an external site..

“If people are vaccinated Links to an external site. and wear their mask Links to an external site., there’s no need for lockdowns Links to an external site.,” he said.

Fauci said earlier on “CBS Mornings” Links to an external site. that limiting travel from the countries Links to an external site. where omicron was first identified Links to an external site. “buys you a couple Links to an external site. of weeks becaus Links to an external site.e if you can keep things out in force for a couple of weeks Links to an external site. you can do a lot of things Links to an external site..”

“I would strongly suggest Links to an external site. you get boosted now,” he said.

He added that depending on what scientists Links to an external site. learn about the omicron variant in the coming weeks Links to an external site. “we may not need” Links to an external site. targeted boosters Links to an external site. to contain that strain of the virus Links to an external site..

Biden said his administration Links to an external site. was “sparing no effort at removing all roadblocks Links to an external site. to keep the American people safe Links to an external site.,” including working with drug manufacturers Links to an external site. on potential new boosters Links to an external site. and testing targeted specifically at the new variant Links to an external site..

Any omicron-specific vaccine probably Links to an external site. could not begin to be produced Links to an external site. for another two or three months Links to an external site., so getting boosters now Links to an external site. is a “very important initial line of defense Links to an external site.,” Dr. Paul Burton, chief medical officer Links to an external site. for the vaccine-maker Moderna, said Monday.

Burton said Moderna and other vaccine companies are testing existing COVID-19 vaccines to determine how effective they are against the omicron variant.

“If we need to manufacture an omicron-specific variant, it’s going to take some weeks, two to three months is probably what we’re looking at to be able to really begin to manufacture,” Burton told ABC.

Noting that the new variant, like earlier ones, sprang up overseas in areas with lower vaccination rates, Biden said it was both a moral imperative and in America’s self-interest to speed up global vaccinations. He noted that the U.S. has already donated more than 275 million doses — more than the rest of the world combined — and is on pace to deliver more than 1.1 billion doses globally by September 2022.

“Now we need the rest of the world to step up as well,” Biden said. “We can’t let up until the world is vaccinated.”

As the holiday season got underway, Biden tried to reassure shoppers that his administration was working to ease supply chain problems. Businesses are working to overcome lingering effects of COVID-related shutdowns and now issues arising from the strong recovery that has generated more demand than many ports, manufacturers and retailers can handle.

The president spoke Monday with the CEOs of Best Buy, Food Lion, Samsung, Etsy and Walmart, among companies. The corporate leaders reassured Biden.

“While we’re all concerned about the supply chain, we have more inventory than we did a year ago, and we have the inventory that we need to be able to support the business,” said Walmart CEO Doug McMillon. “And we are seeing progress. The port and transit delays are improving.”