Bill Gates on Omicron threat: 'Humanity could be entering worst part of pandemic'
Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, December 22
Humanity “could be entering the worst part of the pandemic” as Omicron variant is spreading fast across the globe and it will “hit home for all of us”, warns Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates.
In a series of tweets, Gates said that he has cancelled most of his holiday plans as his close friends are increasingly being infected with the Covid-19 virus.
“Just when it seemed like life would return to normal, we could be entering the worst part of the pandemic. Omicron will hit home for all of us. Close friends of mine now have it, and I’ve cancelled most of my holiday plans,” Gates tweeted late on Tuesday.
Just when it seemed like life would return to normal, we could be entering the worst part of the pandemic. Omicron will hit home for all of us. Close friends of mine now have it, and I’ve canceled most of my holiday plans.
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) December 21, 2021
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has already said that “an event cancelled is better than a life cancelled,” in the wake of Omicron spread.
In the US, Omicron is now dominant, accounting for 73 per cent of new infections.
“Omicron is spreading faster than any virus in history. It will soon be in every country in the world,” Gates said.
Omicron is spreading faster than any virus in history. It will soon be in every country in the world.
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) December 21, 2021
“The big unknown is how sick omicron makes you. We need to take it seriously until we know more about it. Even if it’s only half as severe as Delta, it will be the worst surge we have seen so far because it’s so infectious,” he posted.
In the meantime, we all have to look out for each other, especially the most vulnerable, whether they live down the street or in another country. That means wearing masks, avoiding big indoor gatherings, and getting vaccinated. Getting a booster gives the best protection.
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) December 21, 2021
Amid mounting cases of the fast-spreading Omicron variant of Covid-19, scientists in the UK have called for urgent rules, warning that waiting till New Year to enforce the measures may be “too late”.
The UK has so far recorded over 37,000 confirmed cases of Omicron, with a majority of cases detected in the last two-three days, and 12 deaths.
In India, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday that the new Covid variant Omicron is three times more transmissible than the Delta variant.
Gates said that if there’s good news here, it’s that Omicron moves so quickly that once it becomes dominant in a country, the wave there should last less than 3 months.
I know it’s frustrating to go into another holiday season with COVID looming over us. But it won’t be like this forever. Someday the pandemic will end, and the better we look after each other, the sooner that time will come.
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) December 21, 2021
“Those few months could be bad, but I still believe if we take the right steps, the pandemic can be over in 2022,” he said in a tweet. with inputs from IANS
