Biden tamps down omicron alarm, urges vaccinations

President Biden on Tuesday sought to tamp down worries about the omicron coronavirus variant, underscoring that COVID-19 vaccines protect against severe illness from the virus.

Speaking before a briefing with his COVID-19 advisers at the White House, Biden said that the U.S. has the tools to protect Americans from severe illness from the virus. He also advocated to keep schools open at a time when cases are rising and some school districts are opting to start the year remote once again.