Ómicron: WHO anticipates that the new variant of the coronavirus will spread around the world as it did with delta

The World Health Organization (WHO) said today there is no doubt that the omicron variant of the coronavirus will spread, as did the delta variant, and asked that governments carefully examine the data they collect within their borders and assess their risks to take appropriate containment measures.

“We can be sure that this variant will expand. Delta also started in one place and is now the predominant variant ”, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters today.

The delta variant, which was initially detected in India in the second quarter of 2020, currently accounts for more than 90% of cases of covid-19 in the world.

“Once a variant is detected and surveillance begins, more and more is found. This works like this, when it is discovered it is because there is already a group of cases somewhere ”, he added.

Recent notifications indicate that omicron was already circulating in Europe before Botswana and South Africa reported the finding of the variant by sequencing the genome of the virus found in diagnostic tests.

The WHO stressed again that the world should not panic and should take into account that the delta variant is the cause of the considerable increase in cases and hospitalizations in several countries, particularly in Europe, for more than two weeks.

“The confinements, the closure of certain economic activities, of Christmas markets in parts of Europe, this has happened before omicron and the reason was the increase in cases of the delta variant, let’s not lose this perspective”Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva.

Regarding the travel restrictions that have been imposed against the countries where community circulation of the new variant has been detected, the spokesperson indicated that this is only justified if it is a measure to buy time when a health system is in difficulties.

He explained that, in general, “instead of closing borders and imposing restrictions (on international mobility), it is preferable to prepare the country and the health system for the cases that arrive.”

Another option, he said, is to reinforce tests at airports to detect any eventual case of one or more infected passengers, a measure that would be “more advisable and effective” than blind restrictions that block other countries.

Lindmeier said the WHO has not yet received any notification that the omicron variant has caused any deaths.

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