And stands out from the pack. where d you learn to do that? mostly youtube. for this week s rise up i m talking about covid-19 because while many people gotta say they re done with this virus, medical experts are wondering if the virus isn t done with us. so, as time to lead by example. when a trump appointed federal judge overturned the federal mask mandate for airplanes and public transportation early this week they were cheers and applaud in the skies. i m sorry to say the celebration was premature, let s keep in mind that be a two, omicron sub variant now accounts for nearly all covid cases in the u.s., these variants are not as severe
In a month or two. it s going to take years to develop in an incremental fashion. reporter: despite mounting evidence omicron is less severe, the unprecedented surge in infections pushing the daily death toll to its highest point in nearly a year. milder does not mean mild, and we cannot look past the strain on our health systems and substantial number of deaths. reporter: and so many hospitals are running out of room. this empty bed is now the only empty bed in the hospital and it s already spoken for. reporter: 22 more patients at this oklahoma city hospital are just waiting for a bed. the sickest covid patients are unvaccinated. they don t go home. we have about a 50% mortality rate in our icus if you are unvaccinated. these are young patients. reporter: and tonight, scientists are tracking that subvariant of omicron called b.a.-2, now in the u.s. and at least 55 countres.
It comes as covid-related deaths are on the rise in this country. nearly 2,200 deaths every day. dr. rochelle walensky warning that omicron might be milder than delta, milder, in her words, does not mean mild. and tonight, what dr. fauci is now saying about the potential for a universal vaccine for covid. here s abc s erielle reshef tonight. reporter: just days after pfizer launched trials of an omicron-targeted vaccine, moderna announcing it too has started trials of an omicron-specific vaccine. these variant-based vaccines may not play a role immediately, but they will be important as we think about the long-term view and how we begin to live with covid going forward. reporter: it comes as federal health officials said scientists are already working on universal covid vaccine that could take on current and future variants. but dr. fauci stressing it will take time. i don t want anyone to think that pan coronavirus vaccines are literally around the corner
B.a.-2, sometimes called the stealth variant, because it can be trickier for scientists to pinpoint its exact version. but for anyone infected with the new subvariant, those pcr and rapid tests will still work at detecting infection. our mireya villarreal is in dallas, where researchers are hunting for b.a.-2. we re not sure if it s going to change the symptoms or change the severity of disease, it seems unlikely. it seems most likely it will just outcompete the original omicron strain and probably continue along in a similar manner. reporter: and david, dr. fauci now saying that the hope is that through enough vaccinations, boosting, and infection that we could reach a level of protection in the community that will precinct vent another variant from disrupting our daily life like omicron has. david? erielle, thank you. now, to the tensions with russia over ukraine. the u.s. delivering today a written response to russia s demanding that ukraine would never join nato. the u.s. m
Human trials of its omicron-specific booster are now under way, following the news from pfizer on this, as well. tonight, dr. fauci on whether this will be needed. and how soon before a universal vaccine for covid. what he said about that. and news tonight on this omicron sub variant now seen in the utz and more than 50 other countries. tonight, your money and the federal reserve signaling a hike in interest rates is coming. how this will effect everything from your credit cards to your car loans to your morlg. but is it needed to slow inflation? rebecca jarvis breaks it down. the rising tensions in ukraine. the u.s. ambassador to moscow delivering america s official response to russia s demands. that ukraine never be allowed to join nato. the u.s. making no such promise. ian pannell in ukraine. prince andrew fighting back tonight. formally responding to the sex assault lawsuit by virginia giuffre, asking for a jury trial now. a police officer in philadelphia dragged nearly hal