The WHO just released a warning about the new covid variant, Omicron. The organization stated that this new covid variant is spreading faster than any previous strain.
More than that, they said that this new variant of the virus is probably present in most countries of the world.
“Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant.”
This is what the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a Covid update in Geneva.
“Seventy-seven countries have now reported cases of omicron. And the reality is that omicron is probably in most countries, even if it hasn’t been detected yet.”
Tedros said the WHO is worried that countries are dismissing Omicron as a mild variant.
Even if the Omicron variant is more contagious, it is not yet clear whether the strain causes a more mild or severe disease than past variants of the virus.
“We have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril,” Tedros said. “Even if omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems,” he said.
It’s been also revealed that Tedros warned that vaccines alone will not protect countries from Omicron, highlighting the importance of masks and social distancing.
“It’s not vaccines instead of masks. It’s not vaccines instead of distancing. It’s not vaccines instead of ventilation or hand hygiene. Do it all. Do it consistently. Do it well,” Tedros said.
Earlier today, we revealed that the Omicron covid variant has been all over the place this year, and now, the news reveals that vaccines are inefficient without boosters.
Boosters for Omicron
Reuters.com notes the following:
“All three U.S.-authorized COVID-19 vaccines appear to be significantly less protective against the newly-detected Omicron variant of the coronavirus in laboratory testing, but a booster dose likely restores most of the protection, according to a study released on Tuesday.”
Stay tuned for more news.
