MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Measures used to counter the delta variant ought to stay the inspiration for combating the coronavirus pandemic, even within the face of the brand new omicron model of the virus, World Well being Group officers stated Friday, whereas acknowledging that the journey restrictions imposed by some nations could purchase time.
Whereas about three dozen nations worldwide have reported omicron infections, together with India on Thursday, the numbers up to now are small outdoors of South Africa, which is going through a speedy rise in COVID-19 circumstances and the place the brand new variant could also be turning into dominant. Nonetheless, a lot stays unclear about omicron, together with whether or not it’s extra contagious, as some well being authorities suspect, whether or not it makes folks extra significantly unwell, or whether or not it could actually evade vaccine safety.
READ MORE: What we all know you are able to do to guard your self from omicron
“Border management can delay the virus coming in and purchase time. However each nation and each neighborhood should put together for brand new surges in circumstances,” Dr. Takeshi Kasai, the WHO regional director for the Western Pacific, advised reporters Friday throughout a digital information convention from the Philippines. “The optimistic information in all of that is that not one of the info we’ve at the moment about omicron suggests we have to change the instructions of our response.”
Meaning persevering with to push for increased vaccination charges, abiding by social-distancing pointers, and carrying masks, amongst different measures, stated WHO Regional Emergency Director Dr. Babatunde Olowokure.
He added that well being techniques should “guarantee we’re treating the precise sufferers in the precise place on the proper time, and so subsequently making certain that ICU beds can be found, significantly for individuals who want them.”
Kasai warned: “We can’t be complacent.”
WHO has beforehand urged towards border closures, noting they usually have restricted impact and may trigger main disruptions. Officers in southern Africa, the place the omicron variant was first recognized, have decried restrictions on vacationers from the area, saying they’re being punished for alerting the world to the mutant pressure.
Scientists are working furiously to be taught extra about omicron, which has been designated a variant of concern due to the variety of mutations and since early info suggests it could be extra transmissible than different variants, Kasai stated.
A number of nations in Western Pacific area are going through surges that started earlier than omicron was recognized, although COVID-19 circumstances and deaths in lots of others have decreased or plateaued, Kasai stated. However that might change.
Among the many locations which have discovered the variant within the area are Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia — and it’s prone to crop up in additional locations.
The emergence of omicron is of specific concern for organizers of the Beijing Winter Olympic Video games, now about two months away.
Beijing is adopting a sequence of measures to cut back the chance the virus will unfold in the course of the Video games, Zhao Weidong, spokesperson for the organizing committee, advised reporters at a briefing on Friday.
China has adopted a zero-tolerance coverage towards COVID-19 transmission and has a few of the world’s strictest border controls. Video games individuals must dwell and compete inside a bubble, and solely spectators who’re residents of China and have been vaccinated and examined will likely be permitted at venues.
Globally, circumstances have been rising for seven consecutive weeks and the variety of deaths has began to rise once more, too, pushed largely by the delta variant and decreased use of protecting measures in different elements of the world, Kasai stated.
“We shouldn’t be shocked to see extra surges sooner or later. So long as transmission continues, the virus can proceed to mutate, because the emergence of omicron demonstrates, reminding us of the necessity to keep vigilant,” Kasai stated.
He warned particularly concerning the chance of surges attributable to extra gatherings and motion of individuals in the course of the vacation season. The northern winter season may even possible carry different infectious respiratory illnesses, such because the flu, alongside COVID-19.
“It’s clear that this pandemic is way from over and I do know that persons are nervous about omicron,” Kasai stated. “However my message as we speak is that we are able to adapt the way in which we handle this virus to higher deal with the long run surges and cut back their well being, social and financial impacts.”