Omicron spreading faster than any virus in history: Bill Gates on new COVID variant surge.
Highlight
- Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates warns against rising Omicron cases around the world
- Bill Gates says he has canceled his vacation plans after close friends were infected with Omicron
- He advised people to take booster shots of the COVID vaccine, saying it gives the best protection
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned against rising Omicron cases around the world, saying the world could enter the worst part of the pandemic as the version would result in the “worst growth” the world has ever seen. .
In a series of tweets, Bill Gates said he has canceled most of his vacation plans after close friends were infected with the Omicron variant.
“Omicron is spreading faster than any virus in history. It will soon be in every country in the world,” he said. Noting how deadly the “big unknown” is, Gates claimed, “Even if it’s only half as severe as Delta, it will be the worst surge ever because it’s so contagious.” “
He advised people to take booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine, saying it gives the best protection.
“Meanwhile, we all have to watch out for each other, especially the most vulnerable, whether they live outdoors or in another country. That means wearing masks, avoiding large indoor gatherings, and getting vaccinated. Benefit from getting booster. Best protection,” he tweeted.
Bill Gates also claimed that the pandemic wave caused by Omicron would last less than three months.
“If there’s good news here, it’s that Omicron moves so fast that once it dominates a country, the wave there should last less than 3 months. Those few months are bad. But I still believe that if we take the right steps, the pandemic may end in 2022,” he added.
Omicron, which was first detected in South Africa in November, has been declared a “type of concern” by the WHO. Speaking at a briefing on Monday, WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there was no evidence that the variant was “spreading significantly faster” than the previous major version, Delta.
The World Health Organization has urged people to cancel some of their holiday plans to protect public health, as the Omicron variant spreads globally.
“A canceled event is better than a canceled life,” Ghebreyesus said, adding that “tough decisions” must be made.
(with ANI inputs)
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