Omicron spreading faster than Delta, infecting vaxxed: WHO

Omicron spreading faster than Delta, infecting vaxxed: WHO

But UN Body Predicts 2022 May See Pandemic’s End With Vax & Treatments; Britain Under Pressure To Tighten Curbs As Deaths From Variant Rises To 12

21.12.2021

The Omicron variant is spreading faster than the Delta variant and is causing infections in people already vaccinated or who have recovered from the Covid-19 disease, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva on Monday. “There is now consistent evidence that Omicron is spreading significantly faster than the Delta variant,” he said. “And it is more likely people vaccinated or recovered from Covid could be infected or re-infected.”

WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said that the variant was successfully evading some immune responses, meaning that the booster programmes being rolled out in many countries ought to be targeted towards people with weaker immune systems. “We do not believe that all vaccines will become completely ineffective,” she said. WHO expert Abdi Mahamud added: “Although we are seeing a reduction in the neutralisation antibodies, almost all data shows T-cells remain intact, that is what we really require.” Swaminathan, referring to a treatment for people with the disease, said: “Of course there is a challenge, many of the monoclonals will not work with Omicron.” She gave no details. But the WHO team also offered some hope to a world facing the new wave that 2022 would be the year that the pandemic would end — with the development of second and third generation vaccines, further development of antimicrobial treatments and other innovations. “If we can keep virus transmission to minimum, then can bring pandemic to end,” Mike Ryan, the WHO’s top emergency expert said. Tedros, too, called for the world to pull together and make the difficult decisions needed to end the pandemic within the next year. “2022 must be the year we end the pandemic,” he said.

Omicron infections are multiplying rapidly across Europe and the US, doubling every two or three days in London and elsewhere and taking a heavy toll on financial markets. Britain has reported record levels of cases over the past week. The UK health security agency said on Sunday that12 people had died due to Omicron and 104 were currently in hospital with it. Speaking after a two-hour cabinet meeting, UK PM Boris Johnson said on Monday he was looking at all kinds of measures to keep Omicron under control as the situation was extremely difficult, cautioning that further restrictions might be needed. British media said ministers had pushed back against the prospect of new restrictions before Christmas and that curbs, lasting between two weeks and a month, were now more likely to be introduced after, possibly from December 28. Media outlets said these would likely include a ban on households mixing indoors, as well as possible limits on the numbers who can meet outdoors and pubs and eateries limited to opening outdoors only.

Germany plans to limit private gatherings from December 28 to a maximum of 10 people who have been vaccinated or recovered from Covid, according to a draft of proposed measures. Italy is also considering new measures. US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said Omicron was “raging through the world” as he urged Americans to get booster shots. Since the start of the month, US cases have risen 50%, according to a Reuters tally. Meanwhile, US senator Elizabeth Warren said she had tested Covid positive. Australia for its part is pushing to ease curbs despite a predicted surge in infections, hoping inoculations will help keep people out of hospital.

Also, the World Economic Forum on Monday postponed its annual meeting in Davos due to the spread of Omicron, putting off the event scheduled for January until mid-2022.

Meanwhile, South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa returned to work following a week of isolation after testing positive for Covid. Ramaphosa had mild symptoms. AGENCIES