As fears around Omicron grip the world, here are ten updates from WHO on the new Covid strain

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has ignited fears of another wave at a time when cases are already rising in some of the European countries. More and more countries are now putting travel curbs on South Africa and some neighbouring countries.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has asked countries not to put flight bans on southern African nations and instead use science and other protocols to check the spread of the new variant.

India also ramped up measures for those arriving or transiting through nations at risk. Those from 'countries at-risk' will need to take the COVID-19 test post-arrival and wait for results at the airport.


Here's the latest update from WHO:

1. The WHO has said that it is not yet clear whether Omicron is more transmissible compared to other variants, including Delta. Cases have surged in some areas of South Africa but it is not yet clear if that's because of Omicron.

2. It is not yet clear whether Omicron causes more severe disease compared to other variants. The rising hospitalisations in South Africa could be because of more people testing positive rather than surging infections led by Omicron.

3. Understanding the severity of infection due to Omicron will take days to several weeks, the WHO said.

4. The world health bodu suggested that Omicron could lead to higher risk of reinfection (getting reinfected with Covid once you've alreadu had the infection before). However, this will be clear only after several days or weeks of study.

5. On the efficacy of vaccines against Omicron, the WHO said that it is working with technical partners to understand the impact of this variant on the immunity provided by jabs. However, it added that vaccines remain the best defence against strains like Delta in reducing critical disease and death.

6. On treatment, the WHO said that corticosteroids and IL6 Receptor Blockers will still be effective for managing patients with severe COVID. On other treatments, the world body said that it will be assessed to see if they are still as effective given the mutations in Omicron.

7. The WHO has asked countries to enhance surveillance and sequencing of cases and share genome sequences on publicly available databases, such as GISAID.

8. It ahs asked countries to increase some public health and medical capacities to manage surge in cases.

9. It underlined the importance of immediately addressing the issue of vaccine inequity.

10. For individuals, the WHO said that basic Covid protocols like wearing of masks and maintaing a distance of 1 metre from others should be observed. It also asked people in general to avoid crowded places and poorly ventilated spaces.