News
Biden says omicron variant is cause for concern but not panic
By: Krishnadev Calamur | NPR
Posted on:
WASHINGTON, D.C. (NPR) — President Biden said Monday that while travel restrictions imposed on travelers from several southern African nations would slow the entry of the omicron variant of the coronavirus, “it cannot prevent it.”
Biden added: “This variant is a cause for concern — not a cause for panic.”
He reiterated his plea for American to get vaccinated as a way to protect themselves against COVID.
“The best protection against this variant or any of the variants out there is getting fully vaccinated and getting a booster shot,” he said.
Biden said scientists didn’t think that extra measures would be needed to fight the new variant, but added his administration was working with vaccine manufacturers to develop vaccines or boosters against omicron if needed.
The president’s remarks come the same day his administration’s new travel restrictions in response to the omicron variant went into effect.
9(MDU1ODUxOTA3MDE2MDQwNjY2NjEyM2Q3ZA000))