WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden urged Americans on Monday not to panic about the new COVID-19 Omicron variant and said the United States was making contingency plans with pharmaceutical companies if new vaccines are needed.

The World Health Organization said on Monday that it carries a very high risk of infection surges, but said no deaths had yet been linked to the new variant.

Biden said it was inevitable that Omicron cases would emerge in the United States.

But White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said the variant should not cause Americans to change their holiday travel plans as long as they are vaccinated and wear masks.

Earlier flights from South Africa to the United States did not screen passengers after the variant was found.

The White House is not curbing Biden's travel plans or canceling its holiday parties, Psaki said.

Biden said the travel restrictions were put in place to give the country time to get more people vaccinated.