20 December,2021 08:45 AM IST | Vienna | Agencies
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The omicron variant of the coronavirus has been detected in 89 countries, and COVID-19 cases involving the variant are doubling every 1.5 to 3 days in places with community transmission and not just infections acquired abroad, the World Health Organization said Saturday.
Omicron's "substantial growth advantage" over the delta variant means it is likely to soon overtake delta as the dominant form of the virus in countries where the new variant is spreading locally, the U.N. health agency said.
WHO noted that omicron is spreading rapidly even in countries with high vaccination rates or where a significant proportion of the population has recovered from COVID-19.
It remains unclear if the rapid growth of omicron cases is because the variant evades existing immunity, is inherently more transmissible than previous variants, or a combination of both, WHO said.
Other major questions about omicron remain unanswered, including how effective each of the existing COVID-19 vaccines are against it. Conclusive data also does not exist yet on how ill omicron makes COVID-19 patients, the health agency said.
WHO first labelled omicron a variant of concern on Nov. 26.
Health experts have warned of "viral blizzard" in the US as Omicron is spreading rapidly and has been detected in at least 41 states. COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalisations have all surged, with many parts experiencing high levels of community transmission, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The seven-day daily average is 1,22,000 cases, a 1.5 per cent hike from previous week.
More than 10,000 new Omicron cases have been reported in the UK in the highest daily surge so far, as the number of overall COVID-19 infections stood above 90,000 cases. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed additional 10,059 cases of omicron on Saturday, more than three times reported on Friday (3,201), taking total cases to 24,968.
A team of UK researchers has analysed the likely impact that a COVID booster shot will have on Omicron and says it could provide around 85 per cent protection against severe illness. According to the BBC, the protection is bit less than vaccines given against earlier versions of COVID. But it means the top-up dose should still keep many people out of hospital.
Nations across Europe moved to reimpose tougher measures to stem a new wave of COVID-19 infections spurred by the highly transmissible omicron variant, including a new nationwide lockdown by the Dutch government. Schools, universities, and all non-essential stores, bars and restaurants in the Netherlands will be closed until January 14 starting Sunday, caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Saturday night. Residents will be permitted two visitors except for Christmas and New Year's, when four will be allowed. "The Netherlands is going into lockdown again from tomorrow," Rutte said, adding it was "unavoidable because of the fifth wave caused by the omicron variant that is bearing down on us." France, Cyprus and Austria have already tightened travel restrictions. Paris cancelled its New Year's Eve fireworks.
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