The World Health Organization said that the new Covid-19 Omicron variant may pose a very high risk globally and spread much faster, despite the uncertainties about the danger and contagion levels of the new strain. WHO further requested that the countries should enhance their surveillance and collect maximum information related to the speed of spreading of the Omicron variant. It has requested to speed up the vaccination drives against Covid-19 especially among the most susceptible populations. WHO regional director Matshidiso Moeti showed concern and said many countries have already imposed travel restrictions on southern Africa, but imposing travel bans, that target Africa would hinder global solidarity.

The UN health agency said that Omicron the new VOC (a variant of concern) first discovered in southern Africa, was a highly divergent variant with a high number of mutations and seems to possess very high transmissibility. Though no death was reported till now, its high transmissibility potential would increase the number of cases creating more pressure on the health care system, thus resulting in more deaths. 

Source: ET Healthworld