Collins Says More Time Needed To Study New COVID-19 Variant, Omicron, But Tamps Down Fears

(Chevy Chase, MD) — National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins says there is no evidence to suggest the new Omicron variant is any more deadly than the other forms of the coronavirus. Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union, Dr. Collins said it will take two to three weeks to study its effects in South Africa. The NIH director called the appearance of a new variant an opportunity to “redouble” efforts to fight the pandemic. Dr. Collins noted boosters worked particularly well against other COVID variants and he urged all eligible adults to get their booster shots.