Omicron explosion sparks collapse of U.S. public services

Ambulances in Kansas raced toward the hospital, then abruptly changed direction because the hospital was full

First responders, hospitals, schools and government agencies are taking a heavily armed approach to keeping the public safe, but they worry about how long they can hold out

In Johnson County, Kansas, paramedics work 80 hours a week

My hope is that we will be praying that as the outbreak peaks, there may be the same rapid decline as South Africa, Stitz said, referring to how quickly the number of cases in the country has declined

The omicron variant spreads more easily than other coronavirus strains and has already dominated many countries

Still, its easy transmissibility has led to a surge in cases in the U.

In downtown Boise, Idaho, customers line up outside a pharmacy before it opens Friday morning

Anecia Mascorro, a pharmacy technician, said that before the pandemic, Sav, the pharmacy where she worked, always had prescriptions ready for the next day

"The demand is insane -- everyone isn't getting their scripts fast enough, so they keep streaming us," Mascorro said

As of Thursday, in Los Angeles, more than 800 police and firefighters were quarantined due to the virus, resulting in extended ambulance and fire response times

In New York City, officials have had to delay or scale back trash cleanups and subway service due to the virus-induced attrition

"Everyone is working 24-hour shifts," Grayson said

The city's fire department also made adjustments for higher absenteeism rates

Instead, police officials say its prevalence has declined over the past week

At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, two checkpoints at the airport's busiest terminal were closed because there weren't enough traffic safety managers onsite to work, according to a statement from airport and TSA officials.

At the same time, schools everywhere are trying to maintain in-person instruction despite the massive absence of teachers

In Hawaii, a public school affiliated with a school district across the state, 1,600 teachers and staff were absent Wednesday due to illness or a pre-scheduled vacation or vacation

"This is very inappropriate," TUI said in a news conference

In New Haven, Connecticut, hundreds of teachers were out every day this week, with administrators helping to look after classrooms

"We've done a lot of testing
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How much can a rubber band stretch here?" asked Leslie Brato, president of the New Haven Teachers Federation.

—Kelleher reports from Honolulu
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Tang Phoenix News reports
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Associated Press writers Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho; Paul Davenport in Phoenix; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; Michelle Price, David Porter and Michael Sisak in New York; Michael Melia in Hartford, Connecticut contributed to this report

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