'As many as 10,000 cases a day:' Omicron is dominant in US, officials urge boosters to slow spread

Hospitals are preparing for the potential surge in cases in January, when omicron is predicted to begin overtaking delta as the dominant variant of the coronavirus in North Carolina. According to Dr. Mandy Cohen, North Carolina secretary of Health and Human Services, the majority of major hospitals across the state are already finding cases of omicron.

"Nearly all major hospitals are able to sequence omicron, and the vast majority are already finding cases. It is incredibly contagious. It's moving very fast," said Cohen.

Cohen said she believes by the first or second week in January, omicron will become the dominant variant in the state. it has already become the dominant variant nationwide, accounting for more new cases than other variants of the virus.

"Then we may have both delta and omicron side by side for a number of weeks," she said. "But that's what we're getting prepared for.”

COVID-19 cases are already reaching record daily highs around the world, as well as in the United States. Earlier this week, New York had its highest number of new cases reported in one day since the start of the pandemic.

The state saw three days in January 2021 when new cases exceeded 10,000, with the peak coming at 11,708 cases on Jan. 9.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new COVID cases is already beginning to trend upward – the wrong direction.

This past weekend NC saw 10,541 new cases, an 18% increase over last weekend and 23% more than the weekend before that. The 7-day rolling average of new COVID cases is up to 3,428, an 80% spike since early November, before the holidays began.

Cohen and Gov. Cooper emphasized the importance of getting boosted before the surge begins.

"It's why folks need to get boosted now. There's still time. If you go out and get a booster today, you are going to be fully vaccinated, and boosted, by the early part of January."

Durham resident Nathan Chang said Monday's news only bolstered his decision to get a booster.

Through Monday, 62% of the total North Carolina population, a little more than 6 million people, had gotten at least one COVID-19 shot. Only about one-third of that number – 2.1 million – had a booster shot.

Six cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19 were confirmed in Durham County on Monday morning. These cases are the first known omicron variant cases to be confirmed in Durham, according to officials.

Within hours of the omicron variant being confirmed, Duke University released a statement saying COVID-19 booster shots would be required of students, staff and faculty for the spring semester.

Katie Galbraith, president of Duke Regional Hospital, said, "The best way for us to continue to provide the best care for our patients, their loved ones and keep our team members safe is to require booster vaccination."

Earlier this year, 20 employees of Duke Health lost their jobs for refusal to comply with a requirement that they get vaccinated.

"Both were fairly easy decisions," Galbraith said.

The Durham County Health Department says all of those who tested positive for the omicron variant and their close contacts have been contacted.

County health director Rod Jenkins echoed Cohen and Cooper in urging vaccination, including the booster.

"Lots of people who have been vaccinated – first and second dose – are getting the omicron variant, contracting the virus," he said.

To protect against COVID during the holidays, Cohen recommended several key takeaways:

"Based on what we've seen in other parts of the world, we're expecting to see many more cases in NC in the coming weeks and months, even among those vaccinated. However, while vaccines may not prevent some people from getting COVID-19 infection, they do provide strong protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death," said Cohen.