WH: Expect COVID cases to increase in coming weeks

White House press secretary Jen Psaki says the Biden administration is closely watching developments around the "stealth omicron" variant of COVID-19, otherwise known as BA.2.

Jen Psaki, White House press secretary said I would also note that while BA.2 is more transmissible, is a more transmissible version of omicron, the tools we have, including many mRNA vaccines, therapeutics and tests, are all effective tools against the virus and we know because it's been in the country.

The U.S. currently has about 35,000 cases of BA.2 in the country and the White House expects "that to increase."Initial research suggests BA.2 is more transmissible than the original omicron — about 30% more contagious by one estimate. But vaccines can protect people from getting sick. Scientists in the United Kingdom found that they provide the same level of protection from both types of omicron.