WHO and UK warn over growing spread of Omicron

Geneva / London / Washington – The spread of the Omicron variant is increasing globally. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UK have issued warnings. WHO has warned that the rate of spread of Omicron is greater than the previous Delta variant and that the variant is weakening the capacity of vaccines. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned that the Omicron variant has started a new wave of Coronavirus pandemic in the UK. Meanwhile, the number of Coronavirus deaths in the United States have crossed 800,000.

The Omicron variant, which was first reported in South Africa last month, is seen to be spreading rapidly. The number of patients in the United States and Europe has risen sharply, indicating a new wave. New records are being set for the number of patients found every day in Germany, the UK, Denmark, and Russia. Omicron variant cases have been reported from more than 60 countries. It is against this backdrop that WHO has given a new alert.

‘The transmission rate of Omicron is higher than the previous Delta variant. Omicron infection could weaken vaccine effectiveness,’ WHO warns in its alert. At the same time, the WHO has pointed out that the signs and symptoms of the Omicron variant are much milder. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has compared the spread of Omicron to a wave in the high tide. Boris Johnson warned that Omicron has created an emergency situation in the UK.

Two doses of vaccine are likely to be inadequate and a booster dose is required for everyone over the age of 18, says the British PM. Johnson announced that a special campaign has been launched for that. The Covid alert level in the United Kingdom also has been raised to 4. The Covid level in the UK was earlier raised to this level in May. Prime Minister Johnson also said that the first victim of Omicron was recorded in the UK.

Meanwhile, along with Omicron, the Delta variant that came before it is spreading in the US is emerging. This spread has taken the Coronavirus cases in the United States to more than 50 million. Severe winter and reluctance to get vaccinated are the main reasons for this spread. The news agencies have reported that the number of Coronavirus deaths in the United States has crossed 800,000. Health experts have noted that more than 57% of these patients were unvaccinated.