The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that countries be prepared to strengthen social and sanitary measures amid the emergence of the omicron coronavirus strain.
“Taking into account the risk assessment, epidemiological situation, response capacities, vaccination rates ... as well as the uncertainty associated with the rapidly evolving omicron strain, countries should be prepared to strengthen social and health measures in a timely manner to avoid excessive demand for medical services, " the organization's report says.
Against the background of the emergence of a new strain of the coronavirus "omicron", the WHO suggests that the available vaccines can provide some protection against the severe course of COVID and death.
"Despite the uncertainty, it is reasonable to assume that the vaccines currently available provide some protection against severe illness and death," the organization said in its report.
Earlier, the World Health Organization, following the emergency meeting, decided to classify a new variant of the coronavirus discovered in South Africa as causing concern. The new strain - B.1.1.529 - was named by the WHO with the Greek letter omicron. The Chairman of the World Medical Association, Frank Ulrich Montgomery, expressed concern that the omicron in its danger could become comparable to the Ebola virus and as infectious as the delta strain.
