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OMICRON POSING HIGH GLOBAL RISK

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 11/30/2021 2:15:38 PM

Several countries have already imposed travel bans and restrictions on flights to and from South Africa and neighbouring countries. Whereas Japan has imposed complete ban on entire international flights. WHO has already issued a warning that new Omicron variant of Covid poses a "very high" global risk and could have "severe consequences" where there are surges, adding that it is not yet known how contagious and dangerous it is. The Omicron variant is likely to spread internationally. It is high time that countries should prepare by accelerating vaccinations and put mitigation plans in place to maintain essential health services. Omicron has an unprecedented number of spike mutations, some of which are concerning for their potential impact on the trajectory of the pandemic. If another major surge of Covid-19 takes place driven by Omicron, consequences may be severe, although till date, no deaths linked to Omicron variant have been reported. The overall global risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron is assessed as very high. More research is needed to understand Omicron's potential to escape protection against immunity induced by vaccines and previous infections. WHO has declared Omicron a "Variant of Concern", placing the new strain into the most troubling category of Covid variants, along with Delta, and its weaker rivals Alpha, Beta and Gamma. Vaccination has to be taken very seriously by all. The effect of Omicron can be reduced to zero until we achieve hundred percent vaccination of entire population of the world. The prime concern of governments must be to achieve 100% vaccination. Once the target is achieved, we all will be on safer zones ne.