Omicron has arrived — but there’s no reason for broad restrictions

Omicron is spreading: Officials confirmed the first case in the United States on Wednesday. Yet there are also signs it may not be as harmful as some feared. Which means this is no time for drastic new restrictions, particularly like those imposed at the height of the pandemic.

On Tuesday, a World Health Organization official said Omicron cases so far have been “mild,” and there’s no evidence vaccines won’t be effective against serious illness from the new strain.

Doctors in South Africa, which has seen a rise in Omicron infections, say patients there show milder symptoms than from previous strains. In Botswana, where the new variant is thought to have originated, 16 of 19 confirmed cases (84 percent) were asymptomatic.

And in Israel, officials say a Pfizer booster provides up to 90 percent protection against severe illness from Omicron. Other drug makers are hopeful they can tweak their own boosters within months.