Today President Joe Biden addressed the nation on the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant, a concerning strain of the COVID-19 virus first identified in South Africa late last week.
Biden said the variant was a cause for concern—not panic—and cautioned that although newly placed travel restrictions will buy the county some time, the variant will likely soon be in the United States."Restricting travel gives us time to take more actions, move quicker to make sure people understand they have to get the vaccine, you have to get the shot, you have to get the booster," Biden said.The country is limiting travelers from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi, beginning today, CNN reports.