Most infections with Omicron are minor, states WHO

Muscat: Most infections with the mutant Omicron are minor and there are no serious cases. There is also no evidence of a decline in the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines due to the mutation, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated.

An official from WHO said: "Some early indications indicate that most infections with the mutant Omicron are minor and there are no serious cases."

The WHO also said that it is essential that people continue to wear a mask and adhere to the rules of social distancing and personal hygiene even when receiving a vaccination.

The WHO confirmed that 24 countries have reported cases of the mutant Omicron. Preliminary data show that the current tests to detect Covid-19 were not significantly affected by the new mutant. "There is no need to develop a new vaccine. Vaccine producers only need to make small modifications to existing vaccines," the WHO stated.