The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday said that the Omicron COVID-19 variant appears to be less severe than the dominant Delta variant of the virus. However, the health body has warned that the Omicron variant should not be categorised as "mild".

The statement came during a recent media briefing of the WHO by director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He also reiterated the call for ensuring greater equity globally in the distribution of and access to COVID-19 vaccines to enhance protection of people across the world against the pandemic.

As per the latest rate of the global vaccine rollout, 109 countries are expected to miss the WHO's target for 70 percent of the world’s population to be fully vaccinated by July. 

Meanwhile, another variant of the COVID-19 virus named IHU is being closely monitored by the WHO. First registered in September 2021, IHU is not circulating widely as of now, added Dr Maria van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead on COVID-19.

According to the WHO, there are two other categories of greater significance used for tracking the variants: Variant of concern (including Delta and Omicron) and "variant of interest".

During the same briefing, WHO adviser Bruce Aylward highlighted that 36 nations have not been able to reach 10% vaccination cover. He added that among severe COVID-19 patients across the world, there are about 80 percent unvaccinated. 

WAM