While about three dozen countries worldwide have reported
omicron infections, including India on Thursday, the numbers so far are small
outside of South Africa, which is facing a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases and
where the new variant may be becoming dominant. Still, much remains unclear
about omicron, including whether it is more contagious, as some health
authorities suspect, whether it makes people more seriously ill, or whether it
can evade vaccine protection.
“Border control can delay the virus coming in and buy time.
But every country and every community must prepare for new surges in cases,”
Dr. Takeshi Kasai, the WHO regional director for the Western Pacific, told
reporters Friday during a virtual news conference from the Philippines. “The
positive news in all of this is that none of the information we have currently
about omicron suggests we need to change the directions of our response.”
That means continuing to push for higher vaccination rates,
abiding by social-distancing guidelines, and wearing masks, among other
measures, said WHO Regional Emergency Director Dr. Babatunde Olowokure.
He added that health systems must “ensure we are treating
the right patients in the right place at the right time, and so therefore
ensuring that ICU beds are available, particularly for those who need them.”
Kasai warned: “We cannot be complacent.”
WHO has previously urged against border closures, noting
they often have limited effect and can cause major disruptions. Officials in
southern Africa, where the omicron variant was first identified, have decried
restrictions on travelers from the region, saying they are being punished for
alerting the world to the mutant strain.
Scientists are working furiously to learn more about
omicron, which has been designated a variant of concern because of the number
of mutations and because early information suggests it may be more
transmissible than other variants, Kasai said.
A few countries in Western Pacific region are facing surges
that began before omicron was identified, though COVID-19 cases and deaths in
many others have decreased or plateaued, Kasai said. But that could change.
Among the places that have found the variant in the region
are Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia — and it
is likely to crop up in more places.
The emergence of omicron is of particular concern for
organizers of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, now about two months away.
Beijing is adopting a series of measures to reduce the risk
the virus will spread during the Games, Zhao Weidong, spokesperson for the
organizing committee, told reporters at a briefing on Friday.
China has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward COVID-19
transmission and has some of the world’s strictest border controls. Games
participants will have to live and compete inside a bubble, and only spectators
who are residents of China and have been vaccinated and tested will be
permitted at venues.
Globally, cases have been increasing for seven consecutive
weeks and the number of deaths has started to rise again, too, driven largely
by the delta variant and decreased use of protective measures in other parts of
the world, Kasai said.
“We should not be surprised to see more surges in the
future. As long as transmission continues, the virus can continue to mutate, as
the emergence of omicron demonstrates, reminding us of the need to stay
vigilant,” Kasai said.
He warned especially about the likelihood of surges due to
more gatherings and movement of people during the holiday season. The northern
winter season will also likely bring other infectious respiratory diseases,
such as the flu, alongside COVID-19.
“It is clear that this pandemic is far from over and I know
that people are worried about omicron,” Kasai said. “But my message today is
that we can adapt the way we manage this virus to better cope with the future
surges and reduce their health, social and economic impacts.” -AP