New COVID-19 variant Omicron not a disaster, says UK’s SAGE scientist

A microbiologist from the United Kingdom government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) said that the new variant of the COVID-19, Omicron, is not a disaster. He added that the vaccines are still likely to protect against the virus.

Professor Calum Semple struck a note of caution on the worldwide headlines around the new B.1.1.529 variant detected in South Africa.

Soon after the news broke, the UK imposed travel restrictions on six southern African countries – South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Health authorities said that they are investigating the “most significant variant” which could be potentially more infectious and vaccine-resistant.

“This is not a disaster, and the headlines from some of my colleagues saying ‘this is horrendous’ I think are hugely overstating the situation,” Professor Semple told the BBC.

“Immunity from vaccination is still likely to protect you from severe disease. You might get a snuffle or a headache or a filthy cold but your chance of coming into hospital, or intensive care or sadly dying are greatly diminished by the vaccine and still will be going into the future,” he said.

The new Omicron variant, the name given by the World Health Organization (WHO), was first reported from South Africa on Wednesday. The new variant has been identified in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel.

Countries around the world are currently racing to introduce travel bans and restrictions on southern African countries in an effort to contain Omicron’s spread.

Semple said that while it may not be possible to stop the variant coming to the UK, it is still important to delay its arrival.

“If you can slow the virus coming into your country, it gives you more time for your booster campaign to get ahead of it. It also gives the scientists longer to understand more about the virus in case there is anything we really should be worrying about,” he said.