Most Americans are concerned about the new variant (54%, slightly less than were concerned about Delta in June), but it’s Democrats who are the most worried. Four in five Democrats (80%) describe being very concerned (34%) or somewhat concerned (46%) about Omicron. Just one-third of Republicans (35%) are very (12%) or somewhat (23%) concerned about the newly discovered strain.

A majority of Republicans (59%) say they are not very concerned or not concerned at all, compared to 14% of Democrats.