While several international governments have been re-instating travel restrictions and other Covid related rules, the World Health Organization (WHO) and coronavirus experts believe the variant is only 'super mild'.<o:p></o:p>

Experts have been warning international governments and organisations against creating a hysteria around the Omicron variant — the latest variant of COVID-19.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-omicron-in-india-updates-two-cases-found-in-karnataka-433212">New Variant LIVE: India reports 16 new cases of Omicron variant, tally rises to 21</a></o:p>

Dr Angelique Coetzee, chair of the South African Medical Association, said this reaction was "medically seen, not justified." <o:p></o:p>

The doctor has stressed that there has been no reported deaths or severe illness from the new variant which proves that it may not be as big a problem as some people have been portraying it to be in the past few weeks. "Looking at the mildness of the symptoms we are seeing, currently there is no reason for panicking as we don’t see any severely ill patients," Coetzee said.<o:p></o:p>

South African doctors have also backed this theory and claimed that majority of the Omicron variant cases that they have seen till now have been "mild" and not severe. "Our clinicians have not witnessed severe illness. Part of it may be because the majority of those who are positive are young people," South Africa’s health minister Joe Phaahla said.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-heres-what-the-pandemic-will-look-like-in-2022-434239">WATCH |</a>&nbsp;</o:p>Gravitas Plus: Here's what the pandemic will look like in 2022

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-heres-what-the-pandemic-will-look-like-in-2022-434239/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

WHO experts have also been warning countries to not impose travel restrictions as those are 'extreme measures' which are not needed in such mild situations. "These types of interventions are not sustainable. Those types of extreme measures are not our recommendations," said Dr Catherine Smallwood, Senior Emergency Officer at WHO's Regional Office for Europe.<o:p></o:p>

Following the suit, another WHO expert, regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, urged countries to not impose travel restrictions. He added that these restrictions may help in reducing the spread but will also bring heavy negative impacts on the economy and livelihoods of locals of the isolated regions.<o:p></o:p>

Majority of the patients who have been infected by the Omicron variant have reported nausea, dizziness and headache. There has been no reported case of <o:p></o:p>

While several international governments have been re-instating travel restrictions and other Covid related rules, the World Health Organization (WHO) and coronavirus experts believe the variant is only 'super mild'.

While several international governments have been re-instating travel restrictions and other Covid related rules, the World Health Organization (WHO) and coronavirus experts believe the variant is only 'super mild'. Experts have been warning international governments and organisations against creating a hysteria around the Omicron variant — the latest variant of COVID-19. Also read | New Variant LIVE: India reports 16 new cases of Omicron variant, tally rises to 21 Dr Angelique Coetzee, chair of the South African Medical Association, said this reaction was "medically seen, not justified." The doctor has stressed that there has been no reported deaths or severe illness from the new variant which proves that it may not be as big a problem as some people have been portraying it to be in the past few weeks. "Looking at the mildness of the symptoms we are seeing, currently there is no reason for panicking as we don’t see any severely ill patients," Coetzee said. South African doctors have also backed this theory and claimed that majority of the Omicron variant cases that they have seen till now have been "mild" and not severe. "Our clinicians have not witnessed severe illness. Part of it may be because the majority of those who are positive are young people," South Africa’s health minister Joe Phaahla said. WATCH | Gravitas Plus: Here's what the pandemic will look like in 2022 WHO experts have also been warning countries to not impose travel restrictions as those are 'extreme measures' which are not needed in such mild situations. "These types of interventions are not sustainable. Those types of extreme measures are not our recommendations," said Dr Catherine Smallwood, Senior Emergency Officer at WHO's Regional Office for Europe. Following the suit, another WHO expert, regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, urged countries to not impose travel restrictions. He added that these restrictions may help in reducing the spread but will also bring heavy negative impacts on the economy and livelihoods of locals of the isolated regions. Majority of the patients who have been infected by the Omicron variant have reported nausea, dizziness and headache. There has been no reported case of

Is Omicron threat as big as the hype? Read what WHO experts say

The new variant of coronavirus is spreading rapidly across India. Seven more cases of the Omicron have been reported in Maharashtra and nine in Jaipur today.<o:p></o:p>

With the additional cases in Maharashtra and Jaipur, the tally of Omicron infections has increased to 21&nbsp;in India. Out of these 21, eight are in Maharashtra, nine in Jaipur, one in Delhi and Gujarat each, and two in Bangalore.

<o:p>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/omicron-how-well-prepared-is-india-to-tackle-a-possible-spread-of-new-covid-variant-434064">Omicron: How well-prepared is India to tackle a possible spread of new Covid variant?</a></o:p>

Out of the seven new Omicron cases reported in Maharashtra on Sunday, six are in Pimpri and one in Pune. “Four persons who returned from foreign tours and three of their close contacts have tested positive for the new variant,” Maharashtra health ministry said.<o:p></o:p>

In addition to this, two close contacts of a Covid positive patient with Omicron variant in Gujarat have also tested positive for coronavirus. However, it is not yet clear if they have been infected with the same variant or not.<o:p></o:p>

It is also being reported that Jaipur has reported nine cases of Omicron variant. All these nine patients are reported to be from the same family.&nbsp;Four of these patients had returned from South Africa and the rest of five had been in contact with the first four.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-heres-what-the-pandemic-will-look-like-in-2022-434239">WATCH |</a></o:p>

India reported its first case of Omicron variant when a 72-year-old Zimbabwe resident travelled to Jamnagar, Gujarat and tested positive for coronavirus.<o:p></o:p>

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health has warned that the concerns with regard to the new strain developing immunoescape mechanism should be critically addressed. The report has urged the government and experts to do an efficacy check on the existing vaccines against coronavirus conduct more extensive research to analyse the need and urgency of booster shots against the new variant of COVID-19.<o:p></o:p>

"The committee believes that timely detection and isolation of potentially infectious people is very crucial in reducing the impact of the pandemic. The importance of diagnostic testing therefore, cannot be overlooked," the panel said in its report<o:p></o:p>

The new variant of coronavirus is spreading rapidly across India. Seven more cases of the Omicron have been reported in Maharashtra and nine in Jaipur today. With the additional cases in Maharashtra and Jaipur, the tally of Omicron infections has increased to 21 in India.

The new variant of coronavirus is spreading rapidly across India. Seven more cases of the Omicron have been reported in Maharashtra and nine in Jaipur today. With the additional cases in Maharashtra and Jaipur, the tally of Omicron infections has increased to 21 in India. Out of these 21, eight are in Maharashtra, nine in Jaipur, one in Delhi and Gujarat each, and two in Bangalore. Also read | Omicron: How well-prepared is India to tackle a possible spread of new Covid variant? Out of the seven new Omicron cases reported in Maharashtra on Sunday, six are in Pimpri and one in Pune. “Four persons who returned from foreign tours and three of their close contacts have tested positive for the new variant,” Maharashtra health ministry said. In addition to this, two close contacts of a Covid positive patient with Omicron variant in Gujarat have also tested positive for coronavirus. However, it is not yet clear if they have been infected with the same variant or not. It is also being reported that Jaipur has reported nine cases of Omicron variant. All these nine patients are reported to be from the same family. Four of these patients had returned from South Africa and the rest of five had been in contact with the first four. WATCH | India reported its first case of Omicron variant when a 72-year-old Zimbabwe resident travelled to Jamnagar, Gujarat and tested positive for coronavirus. Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health has warned that the concerns with regard to the new strain developing immunoescape mechanism should be critically addressed. The report has urged the government and experts to do an efficacy check on the existing vaccines against coronavirus conduct more extensive research to analyse the need and urgency of booster shots against the new variant of COVID-19. "The committee believes that timely detection and isolation of potentially infectious people is very crucial in reducing the impact of the pandemic. The importance of diagnostic testing therefore, cannot be overlooked," the panel said in its report

Covid: India reports 16 new cases of Omicron variant, tally rises to 21

A British scientist has warned the world that the emergence and spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus shows that the world is closer to the start of a pandemic than the end.<o:p></o:p>

Sir Jeremy Farrar, the director of the Wellcome Trust, has claimed that leaders around the globe have been assuming that the worst of this pandemic is behind us, but that is far from the truth.<o:p></o:p>

Rich countries have been adopting "a very blinkered domestic focus, lulled into thinking that the worst of the pandemic was behind us," he said.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vaccine-advocates-offer-rides-to-teens-to-inoculation-site-spark-controversy-434276">Vaccine advocates offer rides to teens to inoculation site, spark controversy</a></o:p>

Farrar also added that he is hopeful that the existing vaccines can protect masses against the deadly coronavirus, but he is not sure if the same can be said for the new variants that may emerge in the future.<o:p></o:p>

"The longer this virus continues to spread in largely unvaccinated populations globally, the more likely it is that a variant that can overcome our vaccines and treatments will emerge," he wrote in the Observer. "If that happens, we could be close to square one."<o:p></o:p>

He also slammed the political leaders for not being able to put the politics aside and coming together to eradicate the pandemic on a global level. He has accused leaders of only focusing on domestic matters related to Covid, rather than on a global level. "This political drift and lack of leadership is prolonging the pandemic for everyone, with governments unwilling to really address inequitable access to the vaccines, tests and treatment. There have been wonderful speeches, warm words, but not the actions needed to ensure fair access to what we know works and would bring the pandemic to a close."

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-heres-what-the-pandemic-will-look-like-in-2022-434239">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-heres-what-the-pandemic-will-look-like-in-2022-434239/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Meanwhile, the UK has been trying to battle the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus in the country. The health secretary, Sajid Javid, has been urging all eligible people to get a booster shot as soon as possible. "It's absolutely crucial that everybody who is eligible gets their booster jab to top up their immunity before spending time with loved ones," he said. "While our brilliant scientists learn more about the new Omicron variant, we need to do everything we can to strengthen our defences, and vaccines are the best way to do that."<o:p></o:p>

Boris Johnson’s government has also announced that all incoming travellers will now have to show negative RT-PCR Covid test 48 hours before entering the country.<o:p></o:p>

A British scientist has warned the world that the emergence and spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus shows that the world is closer to the start of a pandemic than the end.

A British scientist has warned the world that the emergence and spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus shows that the world is closer to the start of a pandemic than the end. Sir Jeremy Farrar, the director of the Wellcome Trust, has claimed that leaders around the globe have been assuming that the worst of this pandemic is behind us, but that is far from the truth. Rich countries have been adopting "a very blinkered domestic focus, lulled into thinking that the worst of the pandemic was behind us," he said. Also read | Vaccine advocates offer rides to teens to inoculation site, spark controversy Farrar also added that he is hopeful that the existing vaccines can protect masses against the deadly coronavirus, but he is not sure if the same can be said for the new variants that may emerge in the future. "The longer this virus continues to spread in largely unvaccinated populations globally, the more likely it is that a variant that can overcome our vaccines and treatments will emerge," he wrote in the Observer. "If that happens, we could be close to square one." He also slammed the political leaders for not being able to put the politics aside and coming together to eradicate the pandemic on a global level. He has accused leaders of only focusing on domestic matters related to Covid, rather than on a global level. "This political drift and lack of leadership is prolonging the pandemic for everyone, with governments unwilling to really address inequitable access to the vaccines, tests and treatment. There have been wonderful speeches, warm words, but not the actions needed to ensure fair access to what we know works and would bring the pandemic to a close." WATCH | Meanwhile, the UK has been trying to battle the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus in the country. The health secretary, Sajid Javid, has been urging all eligible people to get a booster shot as soon as possible. "It's absolutely crucial that everybody who is eligible gets their booster jab to top up their immunity before spending time with loved ones," he said. "While our brilliant scientists learn more about the new Omicron variant, we need to do everything we can to strengthen our defences, and vaccines are the best way to do that." Boris Johnson’s government has also announced that all incoming travellers will now have to show negative RT-PCR Covid test 48 hours before entering the country.

Omicron variant proof that Covid pandemic is just starting, warns UK scientist