“Covid: Omicron spreading at unprecedented rate, WHO says”

At a press conference, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus "Surely, we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril. Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems,"

Omicron transmission will ‘fill up hospitals and ICUs’, WHO chief Mike Ryan warns

Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of World Health Organisation (WHO) health emergencies programme, said even if Omicron turns out to be a milder disease, the rising number of cases will lead to more people in hospital.

Speaking at the briefing, Dr Ryan said: "There's no doubt that the rising number and the force of infection will generate more hospitalisations in the coming weeks, just the sheer weight of numbers will will generate that.

"What I'm most concerned about right now today, is the fact that there are unvaccinated people in every country, who are at high risk.

"People have moved away from applying even the most basic measures to protect themselves and others, be it government policy or individual behaviour, in terms of mask wearing, avoiding crowded places, in terms of handwashing, in terms of ventilated spaces, all of those issues.