The WHO (World Health Organization) has warned that the new Omicron variant is spreading at an accelerated rate compared to earlier strains and has probably reached most of the countries across the world.

The Omicron variant was first discovered in November in South Africa by scientists, where the country was all of a sudden experiencing rise in COVID-19 cases.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO chief, said during a recent media briefing in Geneva that around 77 countries have reported cases of Omicron. However, he pointed out that variant has already spread in most countries even if it has not been detected yet.

The WHO chief also highlighted that some people are still considering the new variant as mild.

Even if Omicron patients are witnessing less severe symptoms, the rising number of cases or the high mutation could once again impact the unprepared healthcare systems.

The WHO chief also said that the UN health agency has supported giving the booster shorts only if the distribution of jabs was fair and prioritized accordingly.

He further made it clear that the WHO is not against boosters, but they will not be supporting inequity. The organization's primary concern is to save people everywhere in the world. Right now, the critical thing is to protect the least protected, not the most protected.

The discovery of Omicron caused fears that it could cause another rise in global infections. As a result, many countries have enforced travel bans on many southern African nations.

Moreover, the WHO chief noted that still 41 countries have not vaccinated 10% of their population, and about 98 countries have not reached 40%.

There are many vital discriminations between population groups in the same countries regarding vaccinating people.

If the discriminations could end, then the pandemic will also be ended, and if the inequity continues, then the pandemic will also continue, warned Mr. Tedros.

Source Credit - https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/14/who-omicron-spreading-at-unprecedented-rate