Key TakeawaysCOVID-19 cases are rapidly increasing in the U.S.—coinciding with the rise of the Omicron variant.The Omicron variant’s doubling time is 1.5 to three days.Experts say the Delta variant is still driving most cases in the country.

Key Takeaways

COVID-19 cases are rapidly increasing in the U.S.—coinciding with the rise of the Omicron variant.The Omicron variant’s doubling time is 1.5 to three days.Experts say the Delta variant is still driving most cases in the country.

The U.S. is going through yet another COVID-19 surge. After a summer lull, cases spiked in early September before lowering just before Halloween. And now, they’re on a massive uptick.

As of December 17, there were 156,754 new COVID-19 cases reported in the country—a dramatic increase from the 120,337 new cases reported on November 30. The sharp jump in cases partially coincides with the discovery of the highly contagious Omicron variant in the U.S.

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The Delta variant, which has been behind the majority of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. for months, is still the dominant strain of the virus in the country. But data show that Omicron is already causing nearly 3% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., suggesting it’s quickly making headway.

Is Omicron to blame for the recent surge in cases? It might be too soon to know.

Is It Winter Allergies or COVID-19?

“In recent weeks, infections have increased steeply, coinciding with the detection of [Omicron],” the WHO said in a statement on November 26. Since then, Omicron cases have shown up around the world and have been linked to several surges.

The WHO cited research that found Omicron has several mutations in its spike protein, which is what the virus uses to infect cells. The variant also comes with an increased risk of reinfection in people who have previously had COVID-19 and is spreading quickly.

“This variant has been detected at faster rates than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this variant may have a growth advantage,” the WHO said.

What Does the Data Say About Omicron?

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed data from 43 Omicron cases detected in the U.S. between December 1 and December 8.

Researchers found that 58% of the cases were in people between the ages of 18 and 39 and that 14 of the COVID-19 patients had traveled internationally within 14 days before they either developed symptoms or tested positive for the virus.

The data show that 79% of the cases (or 34) happened in people who had finished their primary series of the COVID-19 vaccine. Researchers found that 14 people had gotten their booster vaccine, and five of those received their booster dose less than 14 days before they developed symptoms. Six patients had a previously documented case of COVID-19. One patient was hospitalized for two days.

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According to the WHO and CDC data, Omicron symptoms have been “mild” so far.

However, they’ve largely been in people who are vaccinated or younger people who typically have less severe symptoms,Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York, told Verywell.

“Initial reported infections were among university students—younger individuals who tend to have more mild disease—but understanding the level of severity of the Omicron variant will take days to several weeks,” the WHO said.

What This Means For YouThe Omicron variant is spreading quickly in the U.S. Even if you’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19, experts recommend taking precautions to lower your risk of contracting COVID-19. Consider some level of social distancing, wearing face masks, and utilizing COVID-19 tests.

What This Means For You

The Omicron variant is spreading quickly in the U.S. Even if you’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19, experts recommend taking precautions to lower your risk of contracting COVID-19. Consider some level of social distancing, wearing face masks, and utilizing COVID-19 tests.

Is Omicron Behind the Most Recent Surge?

Experts say it’s too early to tell if Omicron is fueling the current winter surge, given that the Delta variant is still responsible for the majority of COVID-19 cases in the country. There are also other factors beyond Omicron at play.

Moderna Vaccine Efficacy Takes a Hit From Omicron

Omicron “is obviously spreading around the world extraordinarily quickly—in the U.K., it’s doubling every 2.5 days,” Russo said.

According to the WHO, documented Omicron cases are doubling every 1.5 to three days.

How to Handle COVID-19 Testing During the Holidays

Adalja said that lifestyle factors play a role, too. He specifically cites “pandemic fatigue coupled with colder weather driving people indoors” as contributing to the spread of the virus.

Watkins agreed. “People are becoming too lax with mask-wearing in public,” he said. “Even if you are vaccinated, you can still get infected and spread the virus.”

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

World Health Organization.Classification of Omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Omicron Variant: What You Need to Know.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Variant Proportions.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) Variant — United States, December 1–8, 2021.

World Health Organization.Update on Omicron.

World Health Organization.Enhanced Readiness for Omicron.

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