News
Fauci : Multiple Preliminary Studies Confirm Omicron Less Severe Than Delta Variant
January 5, 2022
December 20, 2021
Christmas travel will increase the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, even among the fully vaccinated, the top US infectious disease expert says. "There's no doubt about this, [Omicron] has an extraordinary capability of spreading," Dr Anthony Fauci commented on Meet the Press programme on Sunday.
Dr Fauci, who advises the US government on the pandemic, said the variant was now "raging through the world".Countries are tightening measures as the heavily mutated variant spreads.
In Europe, France and Germany are among those to issue travel restrictions and the Netherlands has imposed a strict lockdown over Christmas.
Governments are also ramping up their Covid booster vaccination programmes after researchers said the additional shot could provide around 85% protection against severe illness.
Dr Fauci said people needed to take precautions such as wearing face masks and social distancing. He also urged more Americans to get their vaccine and booster shots.
"The difference between a vaccinated and boosted person who has an infection, and someone who has an infection who has never been vaccinated - it's a major difference with regard to the risk of severity," he said.
At a White House press briefing on Friday, Dr Fauci said unvaccinated people were at a much higher risk of serious infection and hospitalisation. "We are looking over our shoulder at an oncoming Omicron surge," he said, adding: "The fully vaccinated are doing much better... the optimum protection is fully vaccinated plus a boost."
