Nation Omicron variant cases doubling every 1.5 to 3 days, WHO says; NY cases hit another record high: Latest COVID-19 updates December 19, 2021 Jeanine Santucci and Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY Comments Off on Omicron variant cases doubling every 1.5 to 3 days, WHO says; NY cases hit another record high: Latest COVID-19 updates The omicron variant of the coronavirus makes up nearly 3% of COVID-19 cases in the US. The CDC has detected the new strain in 43 states. Latest news.