WHO sees more evidence that Omicron causes milder symptoms

While case numbers have surged to all-time records, the hospitalisation and death rates are often lower than at other phases in the pandemic.

More evidence is emerging that the Omicron coronavirus variant is affecting the upper respiratory tract, causing milder symptoms than previous variants and resulting in a “decoupling” in some places between soaring case numbers and low death rates, a World Health Organization official said on Tuesday.