Omicron spreads faster than other Corona strains, WHO says

Geneva, (ST) –  On Tuesday, the Director-General of the World Health Organization(WHO) , Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, affirmed that there is significant evidence that the Omicron strain is spreading faster than other strains of the Coronavirus, infecting vaccinated and recovered people.

“Now there is strong evidence that Omicron has spread much faster than Delta, and people who have been vaccinated or recovered are likely to get sick again,” Ghebreyesus told a news conference at the organization’s headquarters in Geneva, as quoted by AFP.

 The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) advised canceling events and celebrations during the festive period at a later time. He expressed his hope that next year will be the end of the Corona epidemic.

Ghebreyesus reiterated his call for better access to vaccines in disadvantaged countries.

He said that if we want to end the epidemic next year, we must end the inequality in vaccines by ensuring that 70 percent of the population in every country is vaccinated by the middle of next year. He called on countries that provide booster doses for adults or children who are in good health to share those doses with other countries, and persuade  unvaccinated people to take up vaccination.

Ghebreyesus pointed out that the World Health Organization does not oppose the booster doses, but it should be limited to people at risk or those over 56 years old.

He concluded by saying that we are facing another harsh winter and we can overcome it through solidarity.

Raghda Sawas