Omicron spreads faster than any other Covid variant, WHO warns

December 17, 2021: On Tuesday, The World Health Organization warned the new Covid-19 omicron variant is spreading faster than any previous strain, and it is probably present in most countries of the world.

“Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a Covid update in Geneva. “Seventy-seven countries have reported cases of omicron. And the reality is that omicron is probably in most countries, even if it hasn’t been detected yet.”

Tedros said the WHO is worried that countries dismiss omicron as a mild variant. Though omicron is more contagious, it is unclear whether the strain causes a more mild or severe disease than past virus variants.

“We have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril,” Tedros said. “Even if omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems,” he said.

Tedros warned that vaccines alone would not protect countries from omicron, emphasizing the importance of masks and social distancing.

“It’s not vaccines instead of masks. It’s not vaccines instead of distancing. It’s not vaccines instead ventilation or hand hygiene. Do it all. Do it consistently. Do it well,” Tedros said.

The omicron variant significantly reduces the protection against infection provided by Pfizer and BioNTech’s two-dose vaccine, according to preliminary lab data released by the companies last week. Scientists at the University of Oxford published a Monday study that found the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are less effective against omicron.

However, the two-dose vaccines likely still protect against severe disease. Pfizer and BioNTech found that a booster shot provides significant levels of protection against omicron infection.

Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergencies program, said mitigation measures like masking and social distancing wouldn’t entirely stop transmission of the virus. Still, they will reduce the pressure on health systems around the world.

“Health systems are weaker than they were a year ago in reality,” he said. “So, unfortunately, sometimes you can get up after the first punch, but it’s tough to get up after the second. And that’s the difficulty. We’re relying on health workers of the health system that this response has weakened.”

Tedros said the WHO is worried that wealthy nations rolling out booster doses for their entire adult populations will exacerbate vaccine inequity worldwide. He made clear that the WHO is not against administering boosters to people at risk of severe disease, but the main priority should be vaccinating those who have not received a shot yet.

The WHO director said 41 countries have not yet hit 10% vaccination of their populations, and 98 countries have not reached 40% vaccination of their people.