Precautionary measure will allow hospitals to turn away patients seeking nonurgent care.

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State of Emergency

Some may think "panic" is not the word to describe what's happening, but others will think we hit that stage over Omicron a day or more ago.

Regardless of your view, the WSJ reports New York Declares State of Emergency to Combat Omicron Variant

New York’s governor declared a state of emergency to prepare for a possible Covid-19 surge from the new Omicron variant that is spreading around the globe.

The precautionary measure announced Friday is intended to help hospitals in the state prepare for a potential winter wave caused by the new variant, which the World Health Organization has said might be more transmissible and pose a greater risk of illness than existing strains of the coronavirus. New York is the first state to declare a state of emergency in response to the Omicron variant.

First detected in South Africa, Omicron hasn’t been found anywhere in the U.S.

“It’s coming,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said of the new strain, which has made its way to the U.K., Belgium and other countries.

Speaking Saturday on the “Today” show, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said all precautions should be taken until more is known about Omicron.

“It likely will be more transmissible,” he said. “We don’t know that yet, but you have to be careful and assume that’s the case.”

Is this panic, normal caution, or something in between?

Related Article: Countries Race To Impose Controls As Omicron Is 'Quite Different' Covid-19 Variant