We all know how corona virus has created havoc and taken millions of life worldwide. It is disheartening to know that omicron variant of COVID-19 which is being treated as mild variant but more transmissible has also contributed significantly. According to a report by WHO COVID-19 has taken more than 500,000 lives of people since omicron has occurred. This has been regarded as beyond tragic as most of the people were treating it as milder variant that may not cause substantial harm. However this data shows that Omicron COVID-19 has been more than a cause of concern and has caused half a million deaths.

WHO on COVID-19 Deaths with Omicron

The incident manager of World Health Organisation Abdi Mahamud has reported that since last November, Omicron has affected 130 million people worldwide according to the data. In those 130 million, 500,000 deaths have occurred globally. It is very shocking and more than a tragic incident as the data is very concerning and “beyond tragic”. 

He said that Omicron variant of COVID-19 was declared as variant of concern in November last year and it has taken over since then. Omicron virus has overtaken delta, which was previously the dominant COVID variant. This has happened because omicron is more transmissible and appears to be less severe. As a result of this, most of us have underestimated its seriousness which has now led us to 500,000 deaths worldwide. 

COVID-19 Vaccine and Omicron

Abdi Mahamud has exclaimed that it is concerning that even after millions of people getting vaccinated with corona virus vaccines; half a million people have died. It is really a big thing and he assumes that every one of us have missed a big point. “While everyone was saying Omicron is milder, they missed the point that half a million people have died since the detection of omicron variant”. WHO report estimates that vaccines have shown reduced protection against COVID-19 omicron variant for all the outcomes.

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WHO’s technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove also have a statement of this saying that sheer number of cases that have come forward even after vaccination drives are astounding. She also mentions that true number of deaths may be even higher as not all cases are reported. Omicron wave makes the previous delta wave peak look almost flat and this is when we are still in the middle of the pandemic. Maria Van also claims that many countries have not passed their peak of omicron yet and this is extremely concerning looking at the number of deaths which has increased over several weeks.

Omicron COVID-19 rise

World Health Organisation has also reported that according to the samples collected in past 30 days, 96.7 percent of the cases have been found infected with omicron variant. Delta variant which was assumed to be more dangerous only accounted for 3.3 percent of total cases. Therefore omicron COVID-19 which is still being assumed as mild infection may not be so.

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