William Brangham:
This new subvariant of Omicron, known as XBB.1.5, now accounts for more than 40 percent of new COVID infections here in the US and about 75 percent of cases in the Northeast.
This new variant comes while just over a third of Americans 65 and older, those at highest risk for serious outcomes, have received the updated booster shot. As China faces a huge increase in cases, this week, the US will require a negative COVID test from passengers flying from China to the United States.
Dr. Jay Varma is a physician and epidemiologist. He is also a professor and director of the Cornell Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response.
Dr. Varma, nice to have you back on the “NewsHour.”
So there are these various alarm bells about COVID that are ringing. Cases are increasing. Some sites ask to wear masks again with some commands, and now this new variation, XBB, has appeared.
How concerned should we be about this variation?
