According to the World Health Organization, 23 countries have reported instances of highly-mutated Covid-19 variants. 

“At least 23 countries from five of six WHO regions have now reported cases of omicron and we expect that number to grow,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters during an update Wednesday in Geneva. 

The WHO takes the development seriously, as should all countries. Tedros stated that this should not be surprising. This is how viruses work. It’s exactly what viruses do. We just have to allow the virus to spread.

This new number is one day after Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House chief medical adviser, said that 226 variants of the disease had been identified. detected across 20 countries. The U.S. authorities have yet to confirm a case. 

South Africa reported the variant to WHO a week back. It contains more than 30 mutations in spike protein. The WHO states that some mutations cause a decline in antibody protection and increased transmission.

Tedros stated that there are still many questions to be answered about how the variant affects transmission and severity, as well as the efficacy of vaccines, therapies, and tests. He said that several WHO advisory committees met over the past few days to evaluate the evidence and to prioritize studies to address these questions.

The highly transmissible Delta Covid-19 variant accounts for nearly all global cases, he said. Tedros stated that the best way to stop transmission of delta is also to avoid transmission of micron.

“If countries and individuals don’t do what they need to do to stop transmission of delta, they won’t stop omicron either,” Tedros said.