The second scenario shows a smaller Omicron surge in the spring, but it’s unclear which scenario is more likely, the Post reports.
The scenarios were given to senior White House officials as they decide whether, when and how to take new steps to combat the virus.
Omicron vs. other variants
There is some fresh data to consider: A study out of South Africa released last week showed that while the variant is more contagious than any scientists have seen so far, Omicron cases tend to be mild.
“They’re considering the information at the highest levels right now, and thinking through how to get the public to understand what the scenarios mean,” a federal health official familiar with the briefing told the Post. “It looks daunting.”
The official says the “implications of a big wave in January that could swamp hospitals … we need to take that potential seriously.”
The CDC’s latest analysis of Omicron’s spread matches that of several U.S. academic groups and data from the U.K., Denmark and Norway, the Post reports.
Early data show that fully vaccinated people who receive a booster shot remain largely protected against severe illness and death from Omicron, but there are concerns about how few Americans have gotten boosters, officials say.
Of the 200 million fully vaccinated people in the United States, more than 50 million have now received boosters, according to the CDC.
RELATED: Omicron vs. Delta: Three Key Differences Between the Two Variants
What to do if you test positive for COVID
“All of the same things stand, whether it’s Delta, Omicron, or any other Greek letter or non-Greek letter of SARS-CoV-2,” says Stephen Kissler, an epidemiologist at Harvard. “Once you know you’re infected, hang tight, limit your encounters with other people, and just take care of yourself.” You should also notify anyone that has been in close contact with you so that they can get tested as well.
Do you need a second test?
If you tested positive after taking a rapid home test, you should consider taking a second home test using a different brand or go to a testing center to confirm the result. Although rare with home tests, false positives can happen. If your test came from a laboratory, a second test isn’t needed.
How long should you isolate?
According to the CDC’s guidelines, you should isolate if you’ve either tested positive in the past 10 days or are experiencing symptoms, and end your isolation after 10 days only if you’ve gone 24 hours with no fever (without the use of Tylenol or other anti-fever drugs) and your other symptoms are improving (not counting the loss of taste and smell), which could take a couple of weeks to return.
RELATED: A Guide to Help You Keep Up With the Omicron Subvariants
What should you do if you live with other people?
If you live with roommates or family, try to separate yourself from other people (and animals) as much as possible to avoid infecting them. “You should take yourself out of society,” Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at the University of California, San Francisco, says. “Wall yourself up in a cocoon”. This means staying in your room and designating specific parts of the house as only for you. You can have someone deliver essentials, such as meals, to your door.