Covid: Omicron spreading at unprecedented rate – WHO
The new coronavirus variant Omicron is spreading across the globe at an unprecedented rate, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned
Cases of the heavily mutated variant have been confirmed in 77 countries.
But at a press conference, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was probably in many others that had yet to detect it.
Dr Tedros said he was concerned that not enough was being done to tackle the variant.
“Surely, we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril. Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems,” he said.
The Omicron variant was first identified in South Africa in November, and the country has since seen a surge in infections. President Cyril Ramaphosa has tested positive for Covid-19, and is currently isolating with mild symptoms.
A number of countries have introduced travel bans affecting South Africa and its neighbours following the emergence of Omicron, but this has failed to stop it from spreading around the world.
In other developments, More than 800,000 Americans have now died from the coronavirus – the highest recorded national death toll from the global pandemic
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson won backing for Covid passes in England, despite the biggest revolt by members of his party since he became PM
The UK government also announced on Tuesday that all 11 countries on its travel red list would be taken off, with Health Secretary Sajid Javid saying the Omnicron variant had spread so widely the rules no longer had much purpose.
Italy has extended a state of emergency on 31 March 2022 , citing concerns over Omnicron .The measures which were due to expire at the end of December, give the government more power to limit travel and public gatherings .
The Netherlands says it will close primary schools a week before the christmas holidays are due to start in a pre – emptive bid to tackle infections.
Norway has announced a ban on serving alcohol in bars and restaurants, among others measures.
In the conference on tuesday, Dr Tedros reiterated concerns about vaccine inequity, as some countries accelerates rollouts of a booster short in response of Omicron.
Recent studies of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine showed it produced far fewer neutralising antibodies against Omicron that against the original strain, but that this deficit could be reversed by a third booster, jab.
Dr Tedros said booster ;could play an important role; in curbing the spread of Covid -19 but that, it was a question of prioritisation.
The other matters. Giving boosters to group at low risk of severe disease or death simply endangers the lives of those at high risk who are still waiting for their primary doses because of supply constraints, he said.
Supplies to the global vaccine -sharing programme Covax have increased in recent months. But world health officials fear a repeat of a shortfall of tens of millions of doses which occured in the middle of this year, partly as result of the India suspending exports during a surge in cases there.
In poorer countries, some vulnerable people are yet to receive a single dose .
