INTERNATIONAL: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced on Tuesday, a $100 incentive for residents who get a COVID-19 vaccine booster at city-run sites by the end of the year.

The move is just one part of a puzzle including increased home tests and a wariness over further lockdowns that's being backed by experts interviewed by Reuters.

The Omicron variant, which was first detected last month and now accounts for 73% of U.S. cases, is causing infections to double in 1.5 to 3 days, according to the World Health Organization. It is not yet known whether it causes more serious illness than the Delta variant.

The rapid rise of infections is once again disrupting life across the country, canceling events from Broadway shows to professional sports.

In New York, Washington and other U.S. cities there were long lines for COVID-19 tests as people sought to find out if they were infected before celebrating the holidays.

With new infections spiking, local officials are also taking steps to encourage vaccinations, including boosters, and increase testing and mitigation measures.