The data are still insufficient to establish the level of severity of the clinical picture it causes.
The World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that the omicron variant of the coronavirus seems to spread more than the delta, with milder symptoms, weighing down the action of vaccines, but indicated that these data are preliminary.
As of the weekend, omicron was present in 63 countries, the WHO reported Sunday afternoon in a technical update.
According to the WHO, omicron seems to spread faster than the delta variant, which until now is responsible for the majority of infections in the world.
This faster advance is not unique to South Africa, where delta is less prevalent, but also to the United Kingdom, where delta is dominant.
But, for the moment, the lack of more information prevents us from affirming whether the omicron transmission rate is due to the fact that it manages to circumvent immunity, because its characteristics make it more contagious or a combination of both factors.
The WHO projected that “omicron exceeds delta in places where there is community transmission.”
The data are still insufficient to establish the level of severity of the clinical picture that causes omicron, even if at the moment the symptoms appear to be “mild to moderate” both in southern Africa and in Europe, he notes. AFP.
With regard to vaccines, the few data available suggest that omicron’s genetic profile “lowers efficacy with respect to protection from contagion.”
Manufacturer Pfizer / BioNTech indicated last week that a three-dose vaccination schedule remains “effective” against omicron.
Countries that have the means are encouraging the population to receive a third dose.
This is the case in Europe, where there is a new wave of infections caused by the irruption of the delta, the abandonment of prevention measures and the low vaccination rates in some countries.
London case
This Monday, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, announced that at least one person has died in the United Kingdom because of the new omicron variant, which only in London already represents approximately “40% of the cases”. EFE.
Johnson warned that, “sadly, omicron is causing hospitalizations.”
“This idea that (the variant) is a milder version of the virus is something that we must park and recognize how quickly it accelerates (its spread) among the population. So the best we can do is get all the booster doses ”of the vaccine, Johnson said.
The head of the Executive announced yesterday that from today the booster dose against COVID-19 will be offered to all those over 18 years of age in England – as long as at least three months have passed since the second dose – in order to combat the “tide ”Of infections that are expected to reach the country.
Johnson warned today that “around 40%” of the cases of COVID-19 that are now registered in London belong to that variant, while the country’s hospitals have already begun to receive patients infected by omicron and a collapse is feared of the NHS (public health service).
The prime minister, who last week announced the entry into force of new restrictions – such as the generalization of the use of masks in closed public places, the requirement for COVID certificates to enter nightclubs or shows or the recommendation to telework -, alluded to the vote scheduled tomorrow in the Commons, where the deputies will decide whether to support those rules.
“I think everyone should recognize a couple of things: that omicron represents a very serious risk to public health and that it spreads very quickly, and I think there is no room for complacency,” he remarked. (I)
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