Omicron spreading faster than Delta variant, infecting vaccinated people: WHO

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Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, speaks during a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland on December 20, 2021. Photo: Reuters/Denis Balibouse
The Omicron variant of the coronavirus is spreading faster than the Delta variant and is causing infections in people already vaccinated or who have recovered from Covid-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) chief said on Monday.

"There is now consistent evidence that Omicron is spreading significantly faster than the Delta variant," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news briefing for Geneva-based journalists, held at its new headquarters building.

"And it is more likely people vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 could be infected or re-infected," Tedros said.