JavaScript is disabled in your web browser or browser is too old to support JavaScript. Today almost all web pages contain JavaScript, a scripting programming language that runs on visitor's web browser. It makes web pages functional for specific purposes and if disabled for some reason, the content or the functionality of the web page can be limited or unavailable.

Thursday, July 17, 2025

WHO sees more evidence that Omicron is milder

by

1290 days ago
20220104
Omicron appears to be affecting the upper respiratory tract, causing milder symptoms. [File: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images]

Omicron appears to be affecting the upper respiratory tract, causing milder symptoms. [File: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images]

By FED­ER­I­CA MAR­SI | AL JAZEERA

 

■ Sev­er­al coun­tries see record high COVID-19 cas­es as the more in­fec­tious Omi­cron vari­ant spreads ■

 

(AL JAZEERA) — More ev­i­dence is emerg­ing that the Omi­cron coro­n­avirus vari­ant is caus­ing milder symp­toms than pre­vi­ous strains, the World Health Or­gan­i­sa­tion has said.

The World Health Or­gan­i­sa­tion’s In­ci­dent Man­ag­er, Ab­di Ma­hamud, told a press con­fer­ence more ev­i­dence is emerg­ing that the Omi­cron coro­n­avirus vari­ant is af­fect­ing the up­per res­pi­ra­to­ry tract, caus­ing milder symp­toms than pre­vi­ous strains.

How­ev­er, he added that Omi­cron’s high trans­mis­si­bil­i­ty means it will be­come dom­i­nant with­in weeks in many places, pos­ing a threat in coun­tries where a high por­tion of the pop­u­la­tion re­mains un­vac­ci­nat­ed.

Asked by me­dia rep­re­sen­ta­tives in Gene­va about whether an Omi­cron-spe­cif­ic vac­cine was need­ed, Ma­hamud said it was too ear­ly to say but stressed that the de­ci­sion re­quired glob­al co­or­di­na­tion and should not be left to the com­mer­cial sec­tor.

Near­ly 300 mil­lion peo­ple have test­ed pos­i­tive for COVID-19 world­wide dur­ing the past two years, and more than five mil­lion deaths have been re­port­ed.

COVID-19HealthUnited Nations


Related articles

Sponsored

Weather

PORT OF SPAIN WEATHER

Sponsored

Today's
Guardian

Publications

Shastri Boodan

Shastri Boodan

Apsara inspires youth through culture

2 days ago
Dr Mariama Alleyne

Dr Mariama Alleyne

Dr Mariama Alleyne

Dr Mariama Alleyne

Dr Mariama Alleyne: Global Hero of Hope supports cancer survivors

4 days ago
During my consultation with Ms Brafit CEO Nicole Joseph-Chin, what was supposed to be a simple mastectomy bra fitting became something much deeper. Her thoughtful questions unlocked emotions I didn’t even realise I was holding in. She comforted, reassured, and helped me face the truth of what was coming. That bra wasn’t just clothing—it was the first real symbol of life after surgery.

During my consultation with Ms Brafit CEO Nicole Joseph-Chin, what was supposed to be a simple mastectomy bra fitting became something much deeper. Her thoughtful questions unlocked emotions I didn’t even realise I was holding in. She comforted, reassured, and helped me face the truth of what was coming. That bra wasn’t just clothing—it was the first real symbol of life after surgery.

During my consultation with Ms Brafit CEO Nicole Joseph-Chin, what was supposed to be a simple mastectomy bra fitting became something much deeper. Her thoughtful questions unlocked emotions I didn’t even realise I was holding in. She comforted, reassured, and helped me face the truth of what was coming. That bra wasn’t just clothing—it was the first real symbol of life after surgery.

During my consultation with Ms Brafit CEO Nicole Joseph-Chin, what was supposed to be a simple mastectomy bra fitting became something much deeper. Her thoughtful questions unlocked emotions I didn’t even realise I was holding in. She comforted, reassured, and helped me face the truth of what was coming. That bra wasn’t just clothing—it was the first real symbol of life after surgery.

Standing on business, not pity: My fight begins–Part 2

4 days ago
Gillian de Souza graces the cover of the book: Minding Their Own Business: Five Female Leaders From Trinidad and Tobago authored by Trini-American Joanne Kilgour Dowdy, Professor of Literacy Studies at the College of Education Health and Human Services at Kent State University.

Gillian de Souza graces the cover of the book: Minding Their Own Business: Five Female Leaders From Trinidad and Tobago authored by Trini-American Joanne Kilgour Dowdy, Professor of Literacy Studies at the College of Education Health and Human Services at Kent State University.

Gillian de Souza graces the cover of the book: Minding Their Own Business: Five Female Leaders From Trinidad and Tobago authored by Trini-American Joanne Kilgour Dowdy, Professor of Literacy Studies at the College of Education Health and Human Services at Kent State University.

Gillian de Souza graces the cover of the book: Minding Their Own Business: Five Female Leaders From Trinidad and Tobago authored by Trini-American Joanne Kilgour Dowdy, Professor of Literacy Studies at the College of Education Health and Human Services at Kent State University.

Gillian de Souza’s American culinary journey springs from T&T roots

4 days ago
iiq_pixel