The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is increasing spying on American citizens to determine the spread of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19.
According to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, the CDC will be expanding its surveillance at four major international airports in an attempt to see whether the Omicron variant of COVID is present in travelers into the U.S.
These new spying measures will be put in place at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, and San Francisco International Airport.
“This program allows for increased COVID testing for specific international arrivals, increasing our capacity to identify those with COVID-19 on arrival to the United States and enhancing our surveillance for the Omicron variant,” Walensky stated.
There have not been any confirmed deaths associated with the Omicron variant so far, and scientists have determined that while the variant has a high transmissibility rate, it appears to present with mild symptoms. A top South African doctor has stated that Omicron patients she has treated have shown mild but unusual symptoms so far.
Two cases of the Omicron variant have been confirmed in the United States so far, one in California and one in Minnesota.
The Biden administration is contemplating new COVID restrictions and lockdowns to combat the spread of the new variant.
“Based on the data … the medical team will make a recommendation on any changes to international travel policy,” Jeff Zients, Biden’s COVID-19 response coordinator, told reporters.
The administration has already banned travel from eight countries with outbreaks of the variant, including South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi. On November 26th, Joe Biden signed the official proclamation restricting the travel of individuals “physically present” in the countries during the “14-day period preceding their entry, or attempted entry into the United States.”
