Q & A COVID-19

It is not clear whether Omicron is more spreadable (ie, more easily spread from person to person) than other variants, including the Delta variant. The number of people testing positive in areas of South Africa affected by this variant has increased, but epidemiological studies are underway to determine whether this increase is due to Omicron or other factors.

source: WHO

It is not clear whether Omicron infection causes more severe disease than infection with other variants, including Delta. Preliminary data indicate an increase in hospitalization rates in South Africa, but this may be due to an increase in the total number of people infected, not to Omicron infections specifically. There is currently no information indicating that Omicron-related symptoms are different from symptoms due to other variants. The initial infections reported were in college students—young people who tend to have mild illness—but it can take days to weeks to understand the severity of the Omicron variant.

All variants of COVID-19, including the Delta variant which is now the dominant variant worldwide, can cause serious illness or death, especially in the most vulnerable people, so prevention is always the first step.

source: WHO

Preliminary evidence indicates a possible increased risk of reinfection with Omicron (people who have been infected with COVID-19 in the past may be reinfected with Omicron), compared to other variants of concern, but information is limited. More information about the risks of reinfection with Omicron will be available in the coming days and weeks.

source: WHO

WHO is working with technical partners to understand the possible impact of this variant on the measures we have, including vaccines. Vaccines remain essential for reducing serious illness and death, including against the dominantly spreading variant, Delta. Current vaccines remain effective against serious illness and death.

source: WHO

The PCR test, which is widely used, can still detect infections, including Omicron infections, as we have observed in other variants. Whether Omicron impacts other types of tests, such as rapid antigen detection tests, is being investigated.

source: WHO

Corticosteroids and interleukin-6 receptor blockers will remain effective in the management of patients with severe COVID-19. Other drugs will be studied to see if they remain effective in the presence of changes in the parts of the Omicron variant virus.

source: WHO

Currently, WHO is coordinating with a large number of researchers around the world to better understand Omicron. Research currently underway or soon to be undertaken includes studies of transmissibility, severity of infection (including symptoms), performance of vaccines and diagnostic test kits, and effectiveness of drugs.

WHO encourages countries to contribute to the collection and sharing of inpatient data through COVID-19 Clinical Data Platform so that clinical characteristics and patient care outcomes can be described immediately.

More information will be available in the days and weeks to come. WHO TAG-VE will continue to monitor and evaluate data as they become available and assess the effect of Omicron mutations on virus behavior.

source: WHO

Since Omicron has been designated as a variant of concern, WHO recommends countries to take several actions:

• such as strengthening surveillance and genome sequencing of cases;
• share genome sequences in publicly available databases, such as GISAID;
• report initial cases or clusters to WHO;
• and conduct field investigations and laboratory tests to better understand whether Omicron has distinct transmission or disease characteristics, or impacts on the effectiveness of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and public and social health measures.
• More information on the November 26 announcement can be found here.

Countries need to continue to put in place effective health measures to suppress the overall spread of COVID-19, using risk analysis and a science-based approach. Countries need to increase certain public health and medical capacities to deal with the increasing number of cases. WHO provides preparedness and response support and guidance to countries.

In addition, along with equitable access to treatment and diagnosis, unequal access to a COVID-19 vaccine must be addressed urgently to ensure that vulnerable groups everywhere, including health workers and the elderly, get their first and second doses.

source: WHO

The most effective steps to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus that people can take are

• maintain a physical distance of at least 1 meter from other people;
• wear masks properly;
• open windows to increase ventilation;
• avoiding poorly ventilated or crowded rooms;
• maintain hand hygiene;
• directing a cough or sneeze into a folded elbow or tissue;
• and receive the vaccine when it is their turn to be vaccinated.

WHO will continue to provide updated information as it becomes available, including after meetings with TAG-VE. In addition, information will be made available on WHO's digital and social media platforms.

source: WHO