The new COVID-19 variant, Omicron is expected to become the dominant variant after the Delta variant.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement that presently, the dominant variant is the Delta variant, contributing 99.8% of sequences as uploaded on the Global Initiative of the Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) with specimens collected 60 days ago.
Spokesperson of WHO, Christian Lindmeier said that as of December 3, his party has yet to receive reports of death cases involving the Omicron variant.
“We are collecting evidence regarding this worrying variant while the whole world is curbing the variant outbreak.
“Although national figures recording infection caused by the new variant are increasing, no death has been reported to WHO,” Lindmeier stated.
Two weeks ago, restrictions were implemented in a few countries, thus leading to the closing off of economies again, as well as lockdown orders in several affected areas.
Lindmeier added that the closure of Christmas markets is also carried out in a few parts of Europe following the increase of cases due to the Delta variant, which is before the emergence of Omicron.
“We should not take the matter lightly. People should not be careless in practising safety measures to protect themselves from the Delta and Omicron variant,” Lindmeier advised.
Rosli Mansor
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