ISLAMABAD, May 9 (Xinhua) Pakistan has reported the first case of the Omicron sub-variant BA.2.12.1 of COVID-19, the National Institute of Health said in a s
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