Omicron Estimated As Responsible For 10% Of RI's Coronvirus Cases

PROVIDENCE, RI — The delta variant is still responsible for the vast majority of coronavirus cases in Rhode Island, said Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, in a news conference Thursday.

Omicron, the most recent variant to hit Rhode Island, makes up about 10 percent of new cases, Alexander-Scott estimated.

The news comes the same week federal health officials walked back week-old estimates claiming the highly contagious omicron variant is responsible for nearly three out of four new coronavirus cases in parts of the United States.

The drastic change suggests that while omicron cases are on the rise, the variant is not infecting people at the rate the CDC had projected. Still, Alexander-Scott and Gov. Dan McKee said residents need to prepare, as the variant becomes more prevalent in the Ocean State.

"We have this window of time before omicron becomes dominant," Alexander-Scott said. Go today and get boosted."

Although early data indicates the omicron variant is less likely to cause severe illness, Alexander-Scott said she expects there to still be more hospitalizations because of how much more contagious the variant is. She said vaccines, masking and taking precautions, especially around New Year's Eve will be key to slowing the spread.

"We cannot treat this holiday, New Year's Eve, the way we did prior to the pandemic. It's just different," Alexander-Scott said.

Also read: Mass Vaccination Site Reopening At RI Convention Center