Coronavirus watch: Omicron 'cause for concern, not a cause for panic,' Biden says

The omicron variant first discovered in South Africa last week is likely to quickly spread around the globe and could result in "severe consequences," the World Health Organization warned Monday.

The WHO said there is currently no information to suggest symptoms associated with omicron differ from those associated with other variants. No deaths linked to the omicron variant have been reported.

President Joe Biden addressed the latest threat Monday, once again urging Americans to get vaccinated, obtain a booster shot, and wear masks in public places.

"This variant is a cause for concern, not a cause for panic," Biden said. "We have more tools to fight the variant than we have ever had before."

It's Monday, and this is Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's more news to know:

• Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy was placed in the NFL's protocol on Monday and will miss Thursday night’s game in New Orleans after testing positive.
• "Vaccine" is Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year for 2021: "The biggest science story of our time quickly became the biggest debate in our country, and the word at the center of both stories is vaccine."
• The U.S. began restricting travel from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi. Biden said the restrictions provide time to learn more about omicron. "Sooner or later we will see cases of this new variant in the United States," Biden said.
• WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it's "unacceptable" for some countries to vaccinate groups at very low risk of severe disease and give boosters to healthy adults while just 1 in 4 African health workers has been vaccinated. 

Today's numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 48 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 776,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Global totals: More than 261 million cases and nearly 5.1 million deaths. More than 196 million Americans — roughly 59.1% of the population — are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

📘What we're reading: Omicron, how do you even pronounce it? The latest variant's name comes from the Greek alphabet. Here's what it means.

– John Bacon, Paste BN, @realjohnbacon