"15% of Hospitalized Patients in ICU... Omicron Is Not Mild, Warn WHO and Moderna"

WHO Secretary-General "Omicron Spreading Rapidly... Will Be Present in Most Countries"
Moderna Chief Medical Officer "Not a Milder or Less Severe Version Than Previous Virus"

As the capacity of intensive care unit beds reaches its limit mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, medical staff are transferring a patient's bed in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Pyeongtaek, a designated COVID-19 specialized hospital.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Warning messages about the spread and symptoms of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron continue to emerge. The World Health Organization (WHO) Secretary-General predicted that Omicron has likely already spread to most countries.

On the 14th (local time), WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a virtual press briefing, "The Omicron variant is spreading rapidly at a speed we have not seen in any previous variants," adding, "Omicron has been reported in 77 countries so far. Even if it has not yet been detected, it probably exists in most countries."

Secretary-General Ghebreyesus warned, "We should not underestimate the symptoms of Omicron infection as mild," and said, "Clearly, we are currently taking a risk by underestimating this virus. Even if the Omicron variant causes less severe illness, the sheer number of infections can once again overwhelm already underprepared healthcare systems."

On the morning of the 3rd, a monitor installed at the screening clinic of Buk-gu Public Health Center in Gwangju displayed information expressing concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant. [Image source=Yonhap News]

He stated, "The World Health Organization does not oppose booster shots. We oppose (vaccine supply) inequality," pointing out, "In 41 countries worldwide, vaccination rates have not even reached 10%, and in 98 countries, they have not reached 40%."

He reiterated the need for equitable vaccine distribution, saying, "If (vaccine) inequality continues, the pandemic will continue."

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Moderna, a pharmaceutical company developing COVID-19 vaccines, also expressed concern about the risks of Omicron. According to BBC, CMO Paul Burton told members of the UK House of Commons Science and Technology Committee that day, "I do not believe Omicron is a lighter or less severe version of the existing virus."

Burton explained, "Looking at the figure that 15% of patients hospitalized with Omicron variant infection are in intensive care units, it is similar to the level seen in August when the Delta variant spread rapidly."

He added, "While the Omicron variant may eventually replace the Delta variant, both variants will coexist for the time being," expressing concern that "this could lead to the emergence of another variant."

Meanwhile, Moderna plans to soon release data confirming how much their booster shots prevent the Omicron variant.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.