Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization's European head, told a news conference in Vienna that within weeks Omicron would dominate in more countries of the region, "pushing already stretched health systems further to the brink."
"We
can see another storm coming," Kluge said.
According
to report, countries across Europe considered new curbs on movement on Tuesday
while U.S. President Joe Biden appealed to all Americans to get vaccinated to
fight the Omicron variant sweeping the world days before the second Christmas
of the pandemic.
Omicron
infections are multiplying across Europe, the United States and Asia, including
in Japan, where a single cluster
https://www.reuters.com/world/coronavirus-cluster-linked-us-base-japan-grows-least-180-2021-12-20
of COVID-19 cases at a military base has grown to at least 180.
"If
you're not fully vaccinated, you have good reason to be concerned," Biden
said at the White House, where he unveiled plans to buy 500 million rapid
COVID-19 tests to be distributed for free to Americans who request them
starting in January.
Striking a
dire tone about the risks to the one in four American adults still
unvaccinated, he said: "Your choice can be the difference between life and
death."
Biden warn-unvaccinated
also activated some 1,000 military medical personnel to support hospitals
already being overwhelmed.
Omicron
now accounts for 73% of all new cases in the United States, up from less than
1% at the beginning of the month.
Germany,
Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands and South Korea are among countries to have
reimposed partial or full lockdowns or other social distancing measures in
recent days.
Portugal
ordered nightclubs and bars to close and told people to work from home for at
least two weeks from Saturday.
Nicola
Sturgeon, first minister of Scotland - part of the United Kingdom but with
devolved responsibilities for health - set out plans for further restrictions
on big public events, including sports fixtures, for three weeks after
Christmas.
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