Omicron-related disruptions cause over 4,000 flight cancellations to kick off 2022

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/airlines-grapple-with-omicron-related-disruptions-start-off-2022-2022-01-02/

Over 4,000 flights were cancelled around the world on Sunday, more than half of them U.S. flights, adding to the toll of holiday week travel disruptions due to adverse weather and the surge in coronavirus cases caused by the Omicron variant.

The flights cancelled by 8 pm GMT on Sunday included over 2,400 entering, departing from or within the United States, according to tracking website FlightAware.com. Globally, more than 11,200 flights were delayed.

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Why this Covid-19 surge is 'unprecedented in this pandemic'

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/02/health/us-coronavirus-sunday/index.html

Even health care workers are getting sidelined during the rapid rise of the Omicron variant, the most contagious strain of novel coronavirus to hit the US.

"Our health system is at a very different place than we were in previous surges," emergency medicine professor Dr. Esther Choo said.

"This strain is so infectious that I think all of us know many, many colleagues who are currently infected or have symptoms and are under quarantine," said Choo, associate professor at Oregon Health and Science University.

"We've lost at least 20% of our health care workforce -- probably more."


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Rubio criticizes 'irrational hysteria' over omicron
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/587827-rubio-criticizes-irrational-hysteria-over-omicron

https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1476991857699659777