World Health Organization says that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is killing people around the world, and should not be disregarded as mild.

According to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO chief, hospitals are overburdened by the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant, which is rapidly outcompeting the Delta variant in many countries.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/research-model-predicts-omicron-is-not-done-evolving-it-can-further-evolve-to-increase-transmission-442604" hreflang="en">Research model predicts Omicron is not done evolving, it can further evolve to increase transmission</a>

"While Omicron does appear to be less severe compared to Delta, especially in those vaccinated, it does not mean it should be categorised as mild," Tedros told a press conference.

"Just like previous variants, Omicron is hospitalising people and it is killing people," he explained.&nbsp;"In fact, the tsunami of cases is so huge and quick, that it is overwhelming health systems around the world."

Nearly 9.5 million new cases of COVID-19 were reported to the WHO last week, which is a record 71 per cent increase from the previous week.

However, even this was an underestimate, Tedros said since it did not include the backlog of testing around the Christmas and New Year holidays, positive tests that were not registered, and overburdened surveillance systems that missed cases.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vaccine-sceptic-bolsonaro-criticises-health-regulator-dismisses-vaccinating-children-442782" hreflang="en">'Vaccine sceptic' Bolsonaro criticises health regulator, dismisses vaccinating children</a>

Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's technical lead for COVID-19, said it was "very unlikely" that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/omicron">Omicron</a> would be the last variant of concern before the pandemic ended.

In the face of the more transmissible Omicron variant, Van Kerkhove encouraged the general public to step up the measures they were already taking for their own protection.

"Do everything that we have been advising better, more comprehensively, more purposefully," she said.&nbsp;"We need people to hang in there and really fight."

She said she was amazed at how sloppily some people wore facemasks.

"It needs to cover your nose and mouth... wearing a mask below your chin is useless," she said.

Using his first speech of 2022, Tedros condemned the way wealthy nations hoarded vaccine doses last year. He said it had created the perfect breeding ground for the emergence of virus variants. To stop the "death and destruction" of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a>, he urged the world in 2022 to share out vaccine doses more fairly.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/child-in-los-angeles-detected-with-flurona-what-are-the-symptoms-442563" hreflang="en">Child in Los Angeles detected with 'flurona'; what are the symptoms?</a>

Tedros had hoped to have 10 per cent of every country's population vaccinated by September 2021 and 40 per cent by December 2021.

As per WHO estimates 92 of its 194 members missed the target set for the end of 2021, and 36 did not even vaccinate the first 10 per cent due to lack of access to vaccines.

Now, he wants 70 per cent of people in each country to be jabbed by mid-2022. However, 109 countries will miss the target due to the current pace of vaccine deployment.

"Vaccine inequity is a killer of people and jobs and it undermines a global economic recovery," said Tedros.

"Booster after booster in a small number of countries will not end a pandemic while billions remain completely unprotected."

Watch |&nbsp;WHO: Dismissing the Omicron variant as a mild infection will be a monumental mistake

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/who-dismissing-the-omicron-variant-as-a-mild-infection-will-be-a-monumental-mistake-442856/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Bruce Aylward, the WHO's lead on accessing coronavirus tools, said that there was "no need to finish 2022 in a pandemic".

Michael Ryan, WHO's director of emergencies, however, said that without vaccine equity, "we will be sitting here at the end of 2022 having somewhat the same conversation, which, in itself, would be a great tragedy".

(With inputs from agencies)

World Health Organization says that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is killing people around the world, and should not be disregarded as mild. According to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO chief, hospitals are overburdened by the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant, which is rapidly outcompeting the Delta variant in many countries.

World Health Organization says that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is killing people around the world, and should not be disregarded as mild. According to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO chief, hospitals are overburdened by the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant, which is rapidly outcompeting the Delta variant in many countries. Also read | Research model predicts Omicron is not done evolving, it can further evolve to increase transmission "While Omicron does appear to be less severe compared to Delta, especially in those vaccinated, it does not mean it should be categorised as mild," Tedros told a press conference. "Just like previous variants, Omicron is hospitalising people and it is killing people," he explained. "In fact, the tsunami of cases is so huge and quick, that it is overwhelming health systems around the world." Nearly 9.5 million new cases of COVID-19 were reported to the WHO last week, which is a record 71 per cent increase from the previous week. However, even this was an underestimate, Tedros said since it did not include the backlog of testing around the Christmas and New Year holidays, positive tests that were not registered, and overburdened surveillance systems that missed cases. Also read | 'Vaccine sceptic' Bolsonaro criticises health regulator, dismisses vaccinating children Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's technical lead for COVID-19, said it was "very unlikely" that Omicron would be the last variant of concern before the pandemic ended. In the face of the more transmissible Omicron variant, Van Kerkhove encouraged the general public to step up the measures they were already taking for their own protection. "Do everything that we have been advising better, more comprehensively, more purposefully," she said. "We need people to hang in there and really fight." She said she was amazed at how sloppily some people wore facemasks. "It needs to cover your nose and mouth... wearing a mask below your chin is useless," she said. Using his first speech of 2022, Tedros condemned the way wealthy nations hoarded vaccine doses last year. He said it had created the perfect breeding ground for the emergence of virus variants. To stop the "death and destruction" of COVID-19, he urged the world in 2022 to share out vaccine doses more fairly. Also read | Child in Los Angeles detected with 'flurona'; what are the symptoms? Tedros had hoped to have 10 per cent of every country's population vaccinated by September 2021 and 40 per cent by December 2021. As per WHO estimates 92 of its 194 members missed the target set for the end of 2021, and 36 did not even vaccinate the first 10 per cent due to lack of access to vaccines. Now, he wants 70 per cent of people in each country to be jabbed by mid-2022. However, 109 countries will miss the target due to the current pace of vaccine deployment. "Vaccine inequity is a killer of people and jobs and it undermines a global economic recovery," said Tedros. "Booster after booster in a small number of countries will not end a pandemic while billions remain completely unprotected." Watch | WHO: Dismissing the Omicron variant as a mild infection will be a monumental mistake Bruce Aylward, the WHO's lead on accessing coronavirus tools, said that there was "no need to finish 2022 in a pandemic". Michael Ryan, WHO's director of emergencies, however, said that without vaccine equity, "we will be sitting here at the end of 2022 having somewhat the same conversation, which, in itself, would be a great tragedy". (With inputs from agencies)

WHO cautions against underestimating Omicron as 'mild', decries vaccine inequity

Amid rise in coronavirus cases due to the Omicron variant, the World Health Organisation(WHO) warned that "it is possible that new variants could evade countermeasures and become fully resistant to current vaccines or past infection".

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pointed out that "ending health inequity" is key to end the pandemic as he urged governments to ensure 70 per cent COVID-19 vaccine coverage in every country by July next year.

"This is the time to rise above short-term nationalism and protect populations and economies against future variants," the WHO chief said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-reports-record-covid-19-cases-as-europe-battles-omicron-440977">Also Read:&nbsp;France reports record COVID-19 cases as Europe battles Omicron</a>

Tedros conceded that supply chain disruptions was also behind the disruption of vaccine rollout worldwide even as 92 member states of the UN health organisation had missed the 40 per cent vaccination target.&nbsp;

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"While 2021 has been hard, I ask everyone to make a New Year’s resolution to get behind the campaign to vaccinate 70% [against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a>] by the middle of 2022. 
We have 185 days to the finish line of achieving 70% by the start of July 2022. And the clock starts now!"-<a href="https://twitter.com/DrTedros?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrTedros</a>
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"The pressure on health systems is not only because of new COVID19 patients requiring hospitalisation but also a large number of health workers are getting sick themselves," Tedros said, adding, "The unvaccinated are many times more at risk of dying."

The WHO chief expressed concern over the &nbsp;Omicron variant which he said was "more transmissible circulating at the same time as Delta is leading to a tsunami of cases."

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"From the new WHO <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BioHub?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BioHub</a> System, which offers a reliable, safe, and transparent mechanism for WHO’s 194 Member States to voluntarily share novel biological materials [...]"-<a href="https://twitter.com/DrTedros?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrTedros</a> <a href="https://t.co/WSRtmlz3Uz">https://t.co/WSRtmlz3Uz</a>
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"Delta and Omicron are twin threats that are driving up cases to record numbers," he said while pointing out that the two variants are leading to a spike in COVID-19 cases with hospitalisations and deaths.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-identify-antibodies-that-block-omicron-covid-variant-440943">Also Read:&nbsp;Scientists identify antibodies that block Omicron Covid variant</a>

Tedros asked people to stay away from "misinformation" and "disinformation" which has led to vaccine hesitancy&nbsp;"translating to the unvaccinated disproportionally dying".

"Populism, narrow nationalism and hoarding of health tools by a small number of countries undermined equity and created the ideal conditions for the emergence of new variants," Tedros said.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Amid rise in coronavirus cases due to the Omicron variant, the World Health Organisation(WHO) warned that "it is possible that new variants could evade countermeasures and become fully resistant to current vaccines or past infection".

Amid rise in coronavirus cases due to the Omicron variant, the World Health Organisation(WHO) warned that "it is possible that new variants could evade countermeasures and become fully resistant to current vaccines or past infection". WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pointed out that "ending health inequity" is key to end the pandemic as he urged governments to ensure 70 per cent COVID-19 vaccine coverage in every country by July next year. "This is the time to rise above short-term nationalism and protect populations and economies against future variants," the WHO chief said. Also Read: France reports record COVID-19 cases as Europe battles Omicron Tedros conceded that supply chain disruptions was also behind the disruption of vaccine rollout worldwide even as 92 member states of the UN health organisation had missed the 40 per cent vaccination target. "While 2021 has been hard, I ask everyone to make a New Year’s resolution to get behind the campaign to vaccinate 70% [against #COVID19] by the middle of 2022. We have 185 days to the finish line of achieving 70% by the start of July 2022. And the clock starts now!"-@DrTedros — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) December 29, 2021 × "The pressure on health systems is not only because of new COVID19 patients requiring hospitalisation but also a large number of health workers are getting sick themselves," Tedros said, adding, "The unvaccinated are many times more at risk of dying." The WHO chief expressed concern over the Omicron variant which he said was "more transmissible circulating at the same time as Delta is leading to a tsunami of cases." "From the new WHO #BioHub System, which offers a reliable, safe, and transparent mechanism for WHO’s 194 Member States to voluntarily share novel biological materials [...]"-@DrTedros https://t.co/WSRtmlz3Uz — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) December 29, 2021 × "Delta and Omicron are twin threats that are driving up cases to record numbers," he said while pointing out that the two variants are leading to a spike in COVID-19 cases with hospitalisations and deaths. Also Read: Scientists identify antibodies that block Omicron Covid variant Tedros asked people to stay away from "misinformation" and "disinformation" which has led to vaccine hesitancy "translating to the unvaccinated disproportionally dying". "Populism, narrow nationalism and hoarding of health tools by a small number of countries undermined equity and created the ideal conditions for the emergence of new variants," Tedros said. (With inputs from Agencies)

'Tsunami of cases': Delta & Omicron are twin threats, says WHO

As the world grapples with the Omicron variant, WHO chief Tedros&nbsp;Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at least 23 countries from five of six WHO regions have now reported cases of the new variant.

The WHO chief asserted that "blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread of Omicron," while adding, "globally, we have a toxic mix of low vaccine coverage and very low testing."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-update-live-blanket-travel-ban-wont-stop-omicron-says-who-chief-433212">Read Live blog updates on Omicron</a>

The WHO chief called on countries to take "rational, proportional risk-reduction measures" in the fight against the virus.

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"But if countries and individuals don’t do what they need to do to stop transmission of Delta, they won’t stop Omicron either"-<a href="https://twitter.com/DrTedros?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrTedros</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a>
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"Several WHO advisory groups have met over the last couple of days to evaluate the emerging evidence, and prioritise the studies needed to answer these questions," he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-france-mandates-negative-covid-test-for-all-non-eu-arrivals-433295">Also Read:&nbsp;France mandates negative Covid test for all non-EU arrivals</a>

"If countries and individuals don’t do what they need to do to stop transmission of Delta, they won’t stop Omicron either," he said.

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"This [<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a>] virus has demonstrated that it will not simply disappear. 
 
How many more lives and livelihoods it takes is up to us. 
 
Ending the pandemic is not a matter of chance; it’s a matter of choice"-<a href="https://twitter.com/DrTedros?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrTedros</a>
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) <a href="https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1466067689395441670?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Tedros urged equitable access to syringes, tests and therapeutics while reminding that the world was still dealing with highly transmissible and dangerous Delta variant.

The WHO chief asked countries to optimise public health and social measures and ensure "high-risk and vulnerable individuals in all countries are fully vaccinated".

"This virus has demonstrated that it will not simply disappear," he said while adding that "how many more lives and livelihoods it takes is up to us."&nbsp;

"Ending the pandemic is not a matter of chance; it’s a matter of choice," he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-fully-vaccinated-israeli-doctors-get-infected-with-omicron-variant-433249">Also Read:&nbsp;Two fully vaccinated Israeli doctors get infected with Omicron variant</a>

"We need to use the tools we already have to prevent transmission and save lives from Delta. And if we do that, we will also prevent transmission and save lives from Omicron," the WHO chief said.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As the world grapples with the Omicron variant, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at least 23 countries from five of six WHO regions have now reported cases of the new variant.

As the world grapples with the Omicron variant, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at least 23 countries from five of six WHO regions have now reported cases of the new variant. The WHO chief asserted that "blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread of Omicron," while adding, "globally, we have a toxic mix of low vaccine coverage and very low testing." Read Live blog updates on Omicron The WHO chief called on countries to take "rational, proportional risk-reduction measures" in the fight against the virus. "But if countries and individuals don’t do what they need to do to stop transmission of Delta, they won’t stop Omicron either"-@DrTedros #COVID19 — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) December 1, 2021 × "Several WHO advisory groups have met over the last couple of days to evaluate the emerging evidence, and prioritise the studies needed to answer these questions," he said. Also Read: France mandates negative Covid test for all non-EU arrivals "If countries and individuals don’t do what they need to do to stop transmission of Delta, they won’t stop Omicron either," he said. "This [#COVID19] virus has demonstrated that it will not simply disappear. How many more lives and livelihoods it takes is up to us. Ending the pandemic is not a matter of chance; it’s a matter of choice"-@DrTedros — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) December 1, 2021 × Tedros urged equitable access to syringes, tests and therapeutics while reminding that the world was still dealing with highly transmissible and dangerous Delta variant. The WHO chief asked countries to optimise public health and social measures and ensure "high-risk and vulnerable individuals in all countries are fully vaccinated". "This virus has demonstrated that it will not simply disappear," he said while adding that "how many more lives and livelihoods it takes is up to us." "Ending the pandemic is not a matter of chance; it’s a matter of choice," he said. Also Read: Two fully vaccinated Israeli doctors get infected with Omicron variant "We need to use the tools we already have to prevent transmission and save lives from Delta. And if we do that, we will also prevent transmission and save lives from Omicron," the WHO chief said. (With inputs from Agencies)

This virus has demonstrated it will not simply disappear, WHO chief Tedros on Omicron