Omicron severity question answered in 3-4 weeks, WHO official says

Omicron will develop into the dominant coronavirus variant in Europe by the beginning of 2022 and three to 4 weeks is required to find out the severity of the COVID-19 it causes, the World Well being Group’s European head stated on Wednesday.

Hans Kluge has warned nations to brace for a “vital surge” in circumstances.

He instructed Reuters in an interview on Wednesday that Omicron, already dominant in Britain, Denmark and Portugal, was more likely to be the principle coronavirus pressure in Europe “in a few weeks”.

“There isn’t a doubt that Europe is as soon as once more the epicentre of the worldwide pandemic,” stated Kluge, the WHO Regional Director for Europe, including that infections had been up 40% from a yr in the past and Omicron was now taking up.

“Sure, I am very involved, however there isn’t any motive for panic,” he stated. “The excellent news is… we all know what to do.”

Individuals wanted to undertake a “vaccine-plus” method, with vaccinations and booster pictures complemented by mask-wearing, whereas ruling out “non-essential” contacts over Christmas and New Yr, he stated.

Nations also needs to be able to implement stricter measures, however lockdowns ought to solely be used as a final resort, given the financial and social value.

Kluge stated it was not clear how lengthy immunity lasted after a 3rd dose. Israel is ready to develop into the primary nation to supply fourth vaccine doses https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-offer-fourth-dose-covid-19-vaccine-people-over-60-2021-12-21 to extra susceptible folks.

“However then let’s keep in mind that Israel was the primary one to start out. So I’d say {that a} fourth dose in Israel is sort of a third dose in different nations,” he stated.


LESS SEVERE COVID?

Some research recommend Omicron causes much less extreme illness than the Delta variant that’s dominant in most nations, however scientists are nonetheless debating this level.

Kluge stated it might seemingly be three to 4 weeks earlier than the query was answered.

Whereas the coronavirus couldn’t be eradicated, it might be stabilised, permitting hospitals to deal with extra most cancers and cardio-vascular ailments.

Controlling the virus would come by way of vaccines, boosters, doubling the variety of folks sporting masks indoors, air flow and use of recent COVID-19 medication.

Kluge stated the excellent news from historical past was that each pandemic had ended.

“This virus has stunned us greater than as soon as so I’d say I do not know when it’s going to end, however I feel that we’re on observe that our lives will normalise subsequent yr, significantly if – we do not know – if Omicron could be much less extreme,” he stated.

“The important thing difficulty is how can we survive the winter, how can we depart nobody behind.”