Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said on Dec. 6 that Americans shouldn’t panic over the COVID-19 Omicron variant, but urged the public to continue taking precautions, such as wearing masks, to protect themselves against the virus. Murthy acknowledged that he is “concerned” that Omicron, which was first discovered in South Africa last month, might be more transmissible than other variants such Alpha and Delta, the latter of which emerged earlier this year as the dominant strain. However, he stressed that individuals are now better informed as to how to increase their chances of staying safe, such as maintaining social distancing and getting vaccinated, following nearly two years of the pandemic. “I do think it’s a reason for us to not necessarily panic but to be more vigilant and to recognize that the precautions that we have been talking about for the last year or so are all the more important now than ever,” …