WHO warns of increasing omicron hospitalizations as China and EU impose new restrictions

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the rapid spread of the omicron variant could increase hospitalizations, despite early studies suggesting it causes milder symptoms and as China and Europe implement new restrictions.

“A rapid increase in omicron, such as that seen in several countries – even if combined with a slightly less serious disease – will cause a large number of hospitalizations, especially among the unvaccinated”, Declared Catherine Smallwood, one of the main responsible for the OMS Europe.

The emergency response specialist asked that preliminary data on a lower risk of hospitalization be taken “cautiously“, Since currently the cases observed refer above all to”young, healthy populations in countries with high vaccination rates”.

The first studies in South Africa, Scotland and England indicate that omicron seems to cause fewer hospitalizations than the preceding variant.

But the data is still very incomplete and some experts emphasize that a greater contagion can nullify the advantage of a less dangerous variant.

The experts also do not know if this apparently lower severity comes from the intrinsic characteristics of the variant, or if it is related to the fact that it affects already partially immunized populations.

Faced with these uncertainties and a new acceleration of the pandemic in the world, countries are trying to find a balance to minimize economic damage and control the rise of infections.

China expands lockdowns

China on Tuesday put hundreds of thousands of other citizens under confinement orders to try to contain an outbreak of the coronavirus, tiny compared to the record numbers of infections detected in the United States and in European countries.

After registering more than 200 new cases nationwide on Tuesday, a record since March 2020, the government ordered hundreds of thousands of residents in the northern city of Yan’an to stay home.

Since the containment of the first wave of COVID-19 detected in Wuhan, the Asian giant has applied a virus eradication strategy consisting of closing borders and strict measures against any outbreak.

Yan’an residents now join the thirteen million people who have been confined in the nearby city of Xi’an for six days.

New restrictions in Europe

In Europe, many governments try to accelerate the inoculation of booster doses and apply new restrictive measures.

Finland announced that, as of this Tuesday, foreign travelers not vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be able to enter the territory, even if they have a negative test.

In Sweden Y DenmarkIn neighboring countries, the authorities require non-resident travelers to test negative, in addition to being vaccinated. The same Austria asks.

In France, the government announced on Monday that the “health passport”Will only be available to fully vaccinated people and will no longer be valid with a recent negative test. The document allows access to restaurants, cinemas and other places.

Germany, for its part, will introduce new restrictions on Tuesday, such as limiting meetings to ten people in vaccinated people and two for unvaccinated people, the closure of nightclubs and the celebration of sporting events behind closed doors.

“Something must be done to lower the contagion figures”Said a Berlin resident.

But not everyone accepts the measures. Thousands of protesters protested late Monday across Germany against the restrictions, with some firing fireworks or bottles at police, leaving at least 12 officers injured.

Beyond social restrictions, the pandemic has economically punished some sectors such as travel.

Some 11,500 flights have been suspended around the world since Friday and tens of thousands suffered delays in one of the most hectic times of the year. Many airlines pointed to staff shortages in the wake of the wave of omicron positives.

In an attempt to avoid a labor shortage, the main US health agency reduced the isolation period for asymptomatic cases from 10 to five days.

Although daily infections are approaching the record of 250,000 recorded in January, President Joe Biden said the rebound would not have the same impact as that caused by the delta variant months ago. “Ómicron is a source of concern, but should not be a source of panic“, He said.

The pandemic of COVID-19 It has left more than 5.4 million dead in the world since December 2019, according to an AFP count this Tuesday from official sources, but the WHO considers that the balance could be between two and three times higher.