Is the new Omicron variant really a ’cause of concern, not panic’?

US President Joe Biden has warned Americans that it’s inevitable the Omicron variant will be in the country “at some point”… but the new variant is a cause for concern, not panic

Biden reassured residents, saying “we have the best vaccine in the world, the best medicines, the best scientists, and we’re learning more every single day”.

The President also pledged to fight this variant “with scientific and knowledgeable actions and speed, not chaos and confusion.”

Leaders around the world are acting swiftly to stop the spread of this new variant… as Japan shuts its borders to foreigners and the U-K will offer booster shots to all over 18s after 11 cases were detected.

In New York, City officials are now highly recommending residents wear masks while indoors in public places, regardless of vaccination status.

This comes as Pfizer’s CEO says he thinks his company’s vaccine will work, but it may offer far less protection.

Pfizer has also begun the development process for a modified vaccine and says it will be developed in less than 100 days if required.

The CEO noted that his company has already done this twice for both the Delta and Beta variants, both of which didn’t need to be used.

South Africa has also been praised for its transparency around the new strain, with a WHO spokesperson saying the country shouldn’t be reprimanded with travel bans.