[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on the 29th that the new COVID-19 variant Omicron poses a very significant risk worldwide.
According to major foreign media, the WHO stated on the same day, "If a large-scale spread of COVID-19 occurs due to Omicron, the consequences could be severe."
The WHO described Omicron as "a very different variant with a large number of mutations," explaining that "some of these mutations are concerning and may be associated with immune evasion potential and higher transmissibility."
However, it noted that no deaths related to the variant have been reported so far. Nevertheless, it pointed out that depending on its transmissibility, a surge in cases and pressure on healthcare systems could lead to an increase in deaths.
The WHO has called on countries to strengthen surveillance systems to clearly understand where and how quickly Omicron is spreading.
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