Minute by minute: More and more countries register cases with the new omicron variant
The omicron variant could be responsible for "more than half" of coronavirus infections in Europe in the coming months, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC, for its acronym in English).
An ECDC press release on Thursday said preliminary data based on omicron mathematical modeling "suggests a substantial advantage over the delta variant."
"The greater the growth advantage of omicron over delta and the greater its circulation in the EU/EEA, the shorter the expected time until omicron causes the majority of SARS-CoV-2 infections."
Andrea Ammon, director of ECDC, noted that there remain a "large number of factors" that "could change the dynamics of the situation", adding the caveat that ECDC's evidence so far is limited.< blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
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In view of these limited data, a "multi-tiered approach" is required to slow the spread of omicron, the ECDC said.
The deployment of vaccines to the unvaccinated and booster doses to those over 40 remains "imperative," Ammon stressed.
Physical distancing measures, proper ventilation in enclosed spaces and working from home if you feel unwell are also examples of helpful measures, according to Ammon.
The ECDC advised that any temporary travel-related measures should be "carefully considered in light of the latest epidemiological situation" and "regularly reviewed as new evidence emerges".
