Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Tedros said the variant has been detected in 77 countries.
He added: “The reality is that Omicron can be in most countries, even if it hasn’t been detected yet.
On Monday, the UK reported its first death from this variant. It has again raised its Covid-19 alert level and is accelerating the rollout of enhanced photos.
As has happened throughout the pandemic, the United States is trailing Europe in the impact of a new variant.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Omicron accounted for 0.4% of the virus circulating in the US in the week to December 4 to 2.9% the following week.
But rates are already much higher in the region of the country that includes New York and New Jersey, where the CDC estimates 13.1% of cases are caused by Omicrons, compared with just 2% last week.
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN on Tuesday that Omicron will become the dominant coronavirus variant in the US, but it’s unclear what that will mean for severity levels.
While the data suggest that Omicron may cause milder symptoms than previous variants, public health experts stress that it is too early to draw firm conclusions.
He added: “Even if Omicron causes less severe disease, the number of cases could again overwhelm unprepared health systems.
Dr Fauci said it was not clear why symptoms were milder in South Africa, but it may be because many people in the community have been infected before that there is some degree of protection.
“Whatever it is, this disease seems to be less serious, whether it is inherently less pathogenic as a virus, or whether there is more protection in the community, we will have to see when it’s coming to the United States,” he said.
YOU ASKED. WE HAVE ANSWERED.
Q: Can PCR or rapid testing tell me what kind of variant I could get if I have Covid-19?
ONE: Is not.
Diagnostic tests such as PCR tests and rapid antigen tests can help detect if you have coronavirus. But they can’t tell you exactly which strain you have.
READING OF THE WEEK
Why is genome sequencing important in the fight against coronavirus?
When South African scientists announced they had discovered a new coronavirus variant with a worryingly high number of mutations, they applauded for discovering it so quickly.
The country is praised for having a robust genome-sequencing program, which has allowed them to identify potentially disturbing properties of the variant known as Omicron.
As viruses spread in a population, they mutate. Most mutations do not significantly change the behavior of the virus, but some are cause for concern.
Omicron is spreading rapidly. That’s alarming even if it’s mild
The Omicron variant is spreading rapidly in several countries. Even if it causes only mild illness – and that’s far from certain – it still means many people will end up in hospital and die.
Europe’s fight against the pandemic is about to get much more dangerous
Some European countries have mandated vaccination of certain segments of the population and imposed restrictions that increasingly target the unvaccinated.
But with around a third of Europeans still unvaccinated, there is no doubt that governments are battling outright opposition, with the risk that regulations become increasingly difficult. will make the people angry with them.
TOP TIPS
How to stay safe this holiday season
The Omicron variant has been spreading rapidly around the world, so many people are once again pondering how to keep the festival safe.
“Check the rate of Covid-19 in your area, just like you forecast the weather. Keep an eye on Omicron and, importantly, Delta. Get ready to revise your plans, although I won’t cancel just because new variation,” she said.
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