COVID-19: More evidence Omicron variant causes milder symptoms, WHO says

More evidence is emerging that the Omicron COVID-19 variant is affecting the upper respiratory tract, causing milder symptoms than previous variants and resulting in a “decoupling” in some places between soaring case numbers and low death rates, World Health Organization (WHO) Incident Manager Abdi Mahamud said on Tuesday.

“We are seeing more and more studies pointing out that Omicron is infecting the upper part of the body. Unlike other ones, the lungs who would be causing severe pneumonia,” Mahamud told reporters.

While the Omicron variant seemed to be slipping past antibodies, Mahamud said evidence is emerging that COVID-19 vaccines still provide some protection.

However, when asked whether an Omicron-specific vaccine was needed, Mahamud said it was too early to say, but voiced doubts and stressed the decision required global co-ordination and should not be left to manufacturers alone to decide.

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