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Most Omicron cases are 'mild' and there is no evidence the new variant has any impact on vaccine effectiveness, a World Health Organization official has revealed.
The health chief, who was not named, told news agency Reuters early evidence suggests most people who become infected with the strain only suffer 'mild' symptoms.
And there is no signal the current crop of Covid vaccines are less effective against Omicron, despite the variant carrying more than 40 mutations, they said.
But they warned some mutations on the variant — which is scientifically known as B.1.1.529 — suggest it spreads more easily.
South African doctors have been reporting for the last week that most cases are mild.
And a top official in Botswana — where the strain may have emerged — said 85 per cent of cases didn't show any symptoms at all.
However, hospitalisations have surged in South Africa since the virus emerged and experts warn it will be at least two weeks until they have a better understanding of what impact the variant could have.
And SAGE, No10's scientific advisors, warned Britain should brace for a 'potentially very significant wave with associated hospitalisations' this winter if the worst estimates about Omicron turn out to be true.
Dr Angelique Coetzee, chair of the South African Medical Association and the first person to spot the new variant in a patient, said her patients infected with Omicron reported different and much milder symptoms, including tiredness, muscle aches, a sore head and a dry cough. But none reported the tell-tale symptoms of a loss of smell or taste or breathing difficulties
Vaccine-makers Moderna and Pfizer are already working on Covid vaccines that could tackle the Omicron strain, if it poses a problem for the current crop of vaccines, but they won't
