Dec 28, 2021: President Joe Biden has pledged his government’s support for states affected by the rise in coronavirus infections as the highly contagious Omicron variety continues to spread across the US.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with governors on Monday, Biden warned that growing cases could overwhelm some hospitals, especially in areas where large numbers of people are not vaccinated.

“Omicron is a cause for concern, but it should not be a cause for panic,” he said. “We are ready and we know what needs to be done to save lives, protect people and keep schools and businesses open. We just have to stay focused and keep working together.”

Biden added that his message to state leaders was simple: “If you need something, say something and we will do everything we can to help you.”

U.S. health officials said last week that Omecron variety has become the dominant strain in the country, with the variant responsible for  majority of new infections occurring, as state and local leaders consider reinstating sanctions to stem the spread. Many have also renewed calls from people to get COVID-19 jabs, including booster shots, while Biden, among other measures to combat Omicron, has launched the 500 million free, corona virus test kits at home, starting in January.

On Monday, American Airlines collectively canceled about 800 flights, the fourth consecutive day of cancellations. It topped more than 3,000 flight cancellations during the Christmas weekend, generally the best travel time for Americans. Dr. Anthony Fauci, an American infectious disease specialist, urged people to avoid large New Year’s gatherings to reduce the risk of infection.

In a separate interview with MSNBC, Fauci said the country should “seriously” consider a vaccine mandate for domestic travel. “When you make vaccination a requirement, that’s another incentive to get more people vaccinated,” he said.

The US currently mandates that most foreign nationals travelling into the country be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, but has not instituted one for domestic travel.

While parts of the United States have imposed vaccine mandates amid rising cases, including in New York City, where private employers will now have to order the corona virus vaccine for their employees, such moves often face strong opposition. The Biden administration’s attempt to order private company workers and healthcare workers to be vaccinated against CoVID-19 has, for example, sparked a series of legal challenges.

Meanwhile, Biden on Monday promised to ease a coronavirus testing shortage, while acknowledging that his government’s efforts have not gone far enough. Long lines have stretched outside some testing locations in recent weeks in parts of the US.

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