Nation US omicron cases on the rise as NY reports 5; antibody drug appears effective against new variant: Latest COVID-19 updates December 2, 2021December 2, 2021 John Bacon, Jorge L. Ortiz and Celina Tebor, USA TODAY Comments Off on US omicron cases on the rise as NY reports 5; antibody drug appears effective against new variant: Latest COVID-19 updates Confirmed U.S. cases of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus ticked up on Thursday. COVID news.