© 2026 Western New York Public Broadcasting Association

140 Lower Terrace St.
Buffalo, NY 14202

Toronto Address:
130 Queens Quay E.
Suite 903
Toronto, ON M5A 0P6


Mailing Address:
Horizons Plaza P.O. Box 1263
Buffalo, NY 14240-1263

Buffalo Toronto Public Media | Phone 716-845-7000
BTPM NPR Newsroom | Phone: 716-845-7040
Differing shades of blue wavering throughout the image
Give Now
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

A holiday update on the omicron variant

WAMU 88.5 | By Arfie Ghedi
Published December 22, 2021 at 8:32 AM EST
As the omicron variant fuels a new wave of COVID-19 infections, President Biden announced plans that will expand testing sites across the country, distribute millions of free at-home tests and boost federal resources to hospitals in need.
As the omicron variant fuels a new wave of COVID-19 infections, President Biden announced plans that will expand testing sites across the country, distribute millions of free at-home tests and boost federal resources to hospitals in need.

The holiday season is underway, just as the nation grapples with an alarming surge of COVID-19 cases. 

In New York state, reports of new cases shot up 80 percent in two weeks. Washington, D.C. is in the same boat. More than three times as many infections have been reported each day since the start of December. 

Federal officials say these new cases are being driven by the omicron variant, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say accounted for 73 percent of new infections last week. Omicron was first reported in South Africa less than a month ago. 

How are Americans planning holiday gatherings at this point in the pandemic? And what is the outlook for the new year?

Copyright 2021 WAMU 88.5
Arfie Ghedi