This is the progress of the omicron variant in the world 4:57
(CNN) -
After a weekend of quiet celebrations, Americans face the uncertainty of the new year as the nation battles another wave of covid-19.
And concerns are mounting about the impact the virus could have over the next several weeks, as students return to school.
In Atlanta, at least five metropolitan area school districts will begin remote learning this week as students prepare to return from vacation amid a surge in cases in the region.
And, in Washington City, public schools will remain closed until Thursday as a winter storm thwarted plans for students and staff to resume testing for COVID-19 on Monday.
Other school officials have also changed their policies against the coronavirus, due to the explosion of the omicron variant.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools requires that all adults entering its buildings and buses wear masks.
In addition, they have strongly encouraged students to use them as well.
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"When our larger school system returns (to school), I think, unfortunately, we will see our numbers (of covid-19 cases) increase even more because of that," said Dr. Stanley Spinner, medical director of Texas Children's Pediatrics. , to CNN's Pamela Brown.
Although there may be "roadblocks" as schools attempt to reopen this new year amid a record surge in COVID-19 cases, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona maintained that students have suffered enough and need return to class.
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"Our expectation is that schools are open full time for students and face-to-face learning," Cardona said on Fox News Sunday.
The education secretary noted that science has improved nearly two years after the pandemic and vaccines are available for school-age children.
"There is a level of urgency that we must not lose in ensuring that our children are able to educate themselves in person."
Despite the increase in covid-19 cases, students will return to school
As schools restart under competitive pressure, many teachers have asked officials to use distance learning, just as the latest wave is in full swing.
In Massachusetts, teachers asked state officials to close schools during the worst of the surge.
But education commissioner and Governor Charlie Baker turned down his request.
"There are many tools and capabilities available to keep children and adults safe in school. And we must do everything in our power to make sure children stay in school," Baker said.
The governor also highlighted the state's screening program.
The picture was similar in New York City, where new Mayor Eric Adams felt that schools should remain open and rejected a request from the teachers union to start distance learning this month until the current wave of the virus subsides.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the emergency use authorization for Pfizer's booster vaccine against covid-19 in adolescents 12-15 years of age. .
The FDA's decision was expected to occur on Monday, as an unprecedented number of children, most of whom are not vaccinated, are being hospitalized due to COVID-19.
Pediatricians warn of an increase in children with covid-19 2:24
Covid-19 hospitalizations are on the rise and care services are under pressure
As the new year begins with a massive influx of covid-19, healthcare services are already feeling the impacts.
"We are seeing an unprecedented surge of patients again in this pandemic," said Dr. James Phillips, chief of disaster medicine at George Washington University Hospital.
"What is coming for the rest of the country could be very serious. And they need to be prepared," he insisted.
Healthcare workers are exhausted from multiple surges since the pandemic began.
And now many are marginalized during the rapid rise of the omicron variant, the most contagious strain to hit the United States.
"Our healthcare system is in a very different situation than we were in previous waves," said Dr. Esther Choo, professor of emergency medicine.
New Years holidays limited by omicron 0:47
"This strain is so contagious that I think we all know many, many, colleagues who are currently infected or have symptoms and are in quarantine," said Choo, associate professor at Oregon Health and Science University.
"We have lost at least 20% of our health care workforce - probably more."
The University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center this week joined a growing list of medical institutions in the state to activate emergency protocols, after a sharp increase in cases fueled staff shortages and overwhelmed emergency departments. .
"The current demand for care is depleting our available resources. Including staffing," Capital Region Medical Center said in a statement this Friday.
Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union" this Sunday that with so many cases, "even if the hospitalization rate is lower with omicron than with delta, there is still a danger that you will you're going to have an increase in hospitalizations that could overwhelm the health care system. "
There is also concern that while omicron may be a milder form of coronavirus for adults, it is a higher risk for children, according to Dr. Scott Gottlieb.
"It seems to be more of an upper respiratory disease than a lower respiratory disease. That is good for most Americans. For the only group that this may pose a problem is very young children who struggle with infections. upper respiratory tract, "Gottlieb explained to Margaret Brennan on CBS's" Face the Nation. "
"In fact, we are seeing more laryngitis and bronchiolitis-like infections in New York City among children. So that could be a challenge for young children, and we are seeing an increase in hospitalizations among that pediatric segment." said Gottlieb, a former FDA commissioner and current Pfizer board member.
Isolation Guides Relax But Testing Remains Vital
Following the effects of the large increase in COVID-19 cases, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidelines for the isolation period: it will be only five days for people with no symptoms.
"There is no question that you want to have people in the workplace if they have no symptoms," Fauci told CNN's Dana Bash on Sunday.
Although he noted that he anticipates "greater clarity" from the agency.
"In the second half of a 10-day period, which would normally be a 10-day isolation period, the probability of transmissibility is considerably lower," Fauci said.
CDC shortens recommended isolation and quarantine times for covid-19
Fauci explains why the CDC changed the covid-19 isolation guidelines 1:03
"For that reason, the CDC judged it would be a relatively low risk to take people out. You're right, people are concerned why they shouldn't do testing at that time. I personally think that's a reasonable thing to do. I would believe that the CDC will soon have more clarity on that as it has obviously raised a number of questions about in that five-day period: Should we or shouldn't we test people? "said Fauci.
Fauci also clarified the importance of testing, noting that rapid home tests are not as accurate as standard PCR tests.
However, he noted that positive home tests can lead people to seek additional medical care.
"People shouldn't get the impression that those tests are not valuable. They are very valuable, they are valuable for screening. They are valuable if you do them more than once in a sequential way to identify if they are infected. I think there was some kind of Increased concern when people said that, when it became known that the sensitivity had dropped, but it is still very valuable evidence. "
CNN's Christina Maxouris, Ben Tinker, Kevin Liptak, Elizabeth Stuart and Alaa Elassar contributed to this report.
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