CNN: Omicron Variant -- Things will likely get worse, experts warn

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/01/health/us-coronavirus-saturday/index.html

The Covid-19 case surge is altering daily life across the US. Things will likely get worse, experts warn
By Christina Maxouris, CNN
Updated 10:27 AM ET, Sat January 1, 2022

(CNN) Previous rules of virus are 'out the window'

The latest surge, which has sent case numbers exploding across the globe, is fueled by the Omicron variant, the most contagious coronavirus strain yet, health experts say. The virus is now "extraordinarily contagious" and previous mitigation measures that used to help now may not be as helpful, CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner told CNN on Friday.

"At the beginning of this pandemic... we all were taught, you have a significant exposure if you're within six feet of somebody and you're in contact with them for more than 15 minutes. All these rules are out the window," Reiner said. "This is a hyper-contagious virus."

Now, even a quick, transient encounter can lead to an infection, Reiner added, including if someone's mask is loose, or a person quickly pulls their mask down, or an individual enters an elevator in which someone else has just coughed.
"This is how you can contract this virus," Reiner said.