President Joe Biden has said some US hospitals could be “overrun” by Covid-19 cases, but the country is generally well prepared to meet the latest surge and Americans need not panic, reports AFP.

In a virtual meeting hosted by the White House with several state governors and top health advisers, Biden stressed that the rapid spread of the Omicron variant would not have the same impact as the initial outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020 or the Delta surge this year.

“Omicron is a source of concern, but it should not be a source of panic,” he said.