WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan is on the wires speaking on omicron variant
- it is early days to conclude omicron is a milder variant
- existing immunity in parts of South Africa could account for milder omicron cases
- it is unwise to sit back and assume that omicron is a mild variant and will not cause severe disease
- with case numbers going up from omicron, all health systems are going to be under strain
