WHO: Omicron detected in 89 countries, cases doubling fast

VIENNA — The omicron variant of the coronavirus has been detected successful 89 countries, and COVID-19 cases involving the variant are doubling each 1.5 to 3 days successful places with assemblage transmission and not conscionable infections acquired abroad, the World Health Organization said Saturday.

Omicron’s “substantial maturation advantage” implicit the delta variant means it is apt to soon overtake delta arsenic the ascendant signifier of the microorganism successful countries wherever the caller variant is spreading locally, the U.N. wellness bureau said.

WHO noted that omicron is spreading rapidly adjacent successful countries with precocious vaccination rates oregon wherever a important proportionality of the colonisation has recovered from COVID-1levels of colonisation immunity

It remains unclear if the accelerated maturation of omicron cases is due to the fact that the variant evades existing immunity, is inherently much transmissible than erstwhile variants, oregon a operation of both, WHO said.

Other large questions astir omicron stay unanswered, including however effectual each of the existing COVID-19 vaccines are against it. Conclusive information besides does not beryllium yet connected however sick omicron makes COVID-19 patients, the wellness bureau said.

WHO archetypal labeled omicron a variant of interest connected Nov. 26.