The World Health Organization says that the highly transmissible Omicron COVID-19 variant appears to be less severe compared to the Delta variant but it should not be treated as ‘mild’.
WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also reiterated his appeal for countries to allow equal access to COVID-19 vaccines.
RELATED STORY: Philippines detects 29 new Omicron cases, mostly local cases
“We are seeing more and more studies pointing out that Omicron is infecting the upper part of the body. Unlike other ones, the lungs would be causing severe pneumonia,” WHO Incident Manager Abdi Mahamud said in a January 4 briefing.
“It can be good news, but we really require more studies to prove that,” he added.
The Omicron variant spread like wildfire in 128 countries. A number of countries have reverted to strict lockdowns and protocols following the spike in new infections. (TDT)
