(Bloomberg) -- Vaccines will likely protect against severe cases of the new omicron variant of Covid-19, Soumya Swaminathan, the World Health Organizations chief scientist told reporters.

The WHO expects more data on omicron transmission within days, Maria van Kerkhove said at the same press conference. 

Omicron Reaches Nations From U.K. to Brazil in Widening Spread

Meanwhile, the organization’s Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned against a blanket travel ban as it won’t stop the spread of the new variant. 

He also said: 

  • Must fight Delta in order to stop Omicron
  • Ending pandemic is matter of choice, not chance

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