Omicron variant reported in 38 states as COVID cases across the country increase

Officials are bracing for a surge of new coronavirus infections fueled by the Delta variant and Omicron variant.  

Omicron variant has been reported in 38 states, according to Centers for Disease Control data. Though reported Omicron cases have so far been mild, experts advise that every precaution should be taken to prevent infection. 

"If you have a lot of hospital workers, nurses and doctors and ICU staff calling in sick at home because they have symptomatic COVID, that's going to really tax an already strained health system," Dr. Peter Hotez, professor of pediatrics and molecular virology at Baylor College of Medicine, told CBS News.