The Latest on COVID-19

• The Omicron variant is now the most common coronavirus variant in the U.S., according to the CDC. Cases involving the variant have increased exponentially after Omicron was discovered in late November.
• Preliminary data shows that booster doses of the Moderna vaccine significantly increase the antibody response against the Omicron variant, the company announced. A 50-microgram booster dose increases antibody levels 37-fold, and a 100-microgram dose can increase antibody levels 83-fold.
• CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky gave an overview of the pandemic at a White House teleconference last week. She emphasized that the Omicron variant is more transmissible, and medical experts anticipate that it will lead to a rise in cases. She confirmed that the nation is prepared to face this new challenge and that vaccines and masking will play a critical role during the current surge.