THE World Health Organization (WHO) asked governments to take necessary defensive steps in preparation against the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
The call was made by the WHO after it was learned that this latest variant of the deadly disease has already spread to other countries.
The world health body urged countries to review their respective national response programs and to ramp up their national vaccination efforts to quash said variant.
The Omicron variant, first discovered in South Africa last month, has reportedly spread to 57 countries around the world, according to the WHO.
“The steps countries take(s) today and in the coming days and weeks will determined how Omicron unfolds. If countries wait until their hospitals start to fill up it’s too late,” sinabi ni WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Ghebryesus.
Ghebryesus emphasized that now is the time to take action.
However, Filipino infectious disease experts said the call by the WHO is already late since it is believed that the variant has already entered the Philippines.