When will Omicron hit the U.S.? Fauci says it might be here already.

fauci
(Image credit: TODAY/Screenshot)

Dr. Anthony Fauci on Satuday said he would "not be surprised" is the new Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is already in the United States.

Appearing on Weekend TODAY, Fauci, who leads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, explained that while American authorities "have not detected it yet" in the U.S., "when you have a virus that is showing this degree of transmissibility and you're already having travel-related cases that they've noted in Israel and Belgium and other places ... it almost invariably is ultimately going to go essentially all over."

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Grayson Quay

Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-GazetteModern AgeThe American ConservativeThe Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.