NEW YORK — Omicron has raced ahead of other variants and is now the dominant version of the coronavirus in the U.S., accounting for 73% of new infections last week, federal health officials said Monday.

       The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers showed nearly a six-fold increase in omicron’s share of infections in only one week.

       In much of the country, it’s even higher. Omicron is responsible for an estimated 90% or more of new infections in the New York area, the Southeast, the industrial Midwest and the Pacific Northwest. The national rate suggests that more than 650,000 omicron infections occurred in the U.S. last week.

       Since the end of June, the delta variant had been the main version causing U.S. infections. As recently as the end of November, more than 99.5% of coronaviruses were delta, according to CDC data.

       CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the new numbers reflect the kind of growth seen in other countries.

       [Don't miss] Wave of closures for Chicago restaurants, bars amid COVID-19 spike puts industry on edge: ‘This was an absolute rug pull’ ？

       “These numbers are stark, but they’re not surprising,” she said.

       Scientists in Africa first sounded the alarm about omicron less than a month ago and on Nov. 26 the World Health Organization designated it as a “variant of concern.” The mutant has since shown up in about 90 countries.

       Much about the omicron variant remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness. Early studies suggest the vaccinated will need a booster shot for the best chance at preventing omicron infection but even without the extra dose, vaccination still should offer strong protection against severe illness and death.

       “All of us have a date with omicron,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “If you’re going to interact with society, if you’re going to have any type of life, omicron will be something you encounter, and the best way you can encounter this is to be fully vaccinated.”

       Adalja said he was not surprised by the CDC data showing omicron overtaking delta in the U.S., given what was seen in South Africa, the U.K. and Denmark. He predicted spread over the holidays, including breakthrough infections among the vaccinated and serious complications among the unvaccinated that could stress hospitals already burdened by delta.

       [Don't miss] Review: Claudia is a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ of food nostalgia ？

       Dr. Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, said other countries had seen omicron’s fast growth, but the U.S. data showed “a remarkable jump in such a short time.”

       Topol also said it’s unclear how much milder omicron really is compared with other variants.

       “That’s the big uncertainty now,” Topol said. “We have to count on it being a lot of hospitalizations and a lot severe disease from omicron.”

       CDC’s estimates are based on thousands of coronavirus specimens collected each week through university and commercial laboratories and state and local health departments. Scientists analyze their genetic sequences to determine which versions of the COVID-19 viruses are most abundant.

       On Monday, the CDC revised its estimate for omicron cases for the week that ended Dec. 11, after analyzing more samples. About 13% of the cases that week were from omicron, not the 3% previously reported. The week before, omicron accounted for just 0.4% of cases.

       [Don't miss] CBD-infused beverages are on the rise, but face major issue: The cannabis compound doesn't dissolve in water ？

       But CDC on Tuesday said they are revising some of the earlier numbers, after analyzing more specimens. The new numbers indicate that about 13% of the infections the week of Dec. 11 were omicron, and not 3%, CDC officials said.

       Though there remain a lot of new infections caused by the delta variant, “I anticipate that over time that delta will be crowded out by omicron,” Walensky said.

       Associated Press writers Lauran Neergaard and Carla K. Johnson contributed to this report.

       U. of I.’s Urbana-Champaign and Chicago campuses to start next semester remotely. Students will need negative COVID tests before returning to classroom.

       41m

       Omicron variant makes up over 70 percent of new COVID-19 cases in US, health officials say

       49m

       Dining Wave of closures for Chicago restaurants, bars amid COVID-19 spike puts industry on edge: ‘This was an absolute rug pull’

       52m

       Criminal Justice Special prosecutor’s report on handling of Jussie Smollett matter outlines ‘major failure’ in Kim Foxx’s office

       55m

       Post-Tribune ‘That’s really high’: Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Dan Hampton had blood alcohol level twice the legal limit when he was stopped Nov. 20

       4h