Last Friday during a White House press briefing, President Biden’s COVID-19 task force coordinator, Jeff Zients, addressed the nation alongside Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky. While Dr. Fauci and Dr. Walensky gave updates regarding the latest findings and recommended practices related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Zients began the briefing by warning the unvaccinated that they might die this holiday season.
Explaining that the new Omicron variant is “more transmissible” than previous COVID-19 variants and that the White House’s medical experts believe it will lead to “a rise in cases,” Zients said that “unlike last winter, we now have the power to protect ourselves.” Zients conveyed that the current vaccines are effective, “especially,” he said, “for people who get the booster shots when they are eligible.”
Zients reassured those who have already been vaccinated that even if they test positive for COVID-19, they would most likely experience little to no symptoms.