Orange County reports 18,927 new positive COVID tests since Friday

Andrew Noymer, an epidemiologist and UC Irvine [associate] professor [of public health] said he expects fewer fatalities than during last winter’s or summer’s surges. “Omicron is a milder beast, but we’re not getting off scott-free,” he said, adding that predictions are difficult to make. “Omicron is less predictable than previous variants, which weren’t predictable in the first place,” Noymer said.