Nearly 70% of U.S. voters say the COVID-19 omicron variant does not require new vaccine and mask mandates, according to a Trafalgar Group poll.
A total of 69.4% of Trafalgar poll respondents said mandates and restrictions were not needed, with 31.1% saying omicron was "not a serious heath risk; increased mandates and restrictions not needed."
Another 38.3% said "regardless of risk, increased mandates and restrictions not needed."
Only 30.6% said omicron was a "serious health risk that warrants stricter mandates and restrictions."
Nearly 9 out of 10 Republicans said omicron should not result in mandates and restrictions. Only 13.4% of GOP voters disagreed.
Even a majority (54.5%) of Democrats said mandates and restrictions were not needed. Only 45.5% wanted mandates and restrictions due to omicron.
Independents opted against mandates/restrictions by a 67% to 33% margin.
The Trafalgar poll was conducted Dec. 4-7 among 1,084 likely general election voters.
A total of 63.1% of the poll respondents were 45 or older. More Democrats (39.3%) took part than Republicans (35.6%).
While the delta variant still accounts for the vast majority of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., omicron is being detected in about 3% of new cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, the CDC said Tuesday that the omicron variant is spreading rapidly and could trigger a huge wave of COVID infections as early as January.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, top medical adviser to the White House, said Wednesday that COVID-19 vaccines don't currently need to be changed to target the omicron variant.
"Our booster vaccine regimens work against omicron. At this point, there is no need for a variant-specific booster," said Fauci, who is also the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.