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World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking in October 2021. (Fabrice Coffrini/AP)

Preliminary data suggest omicron is more transmissible, causes milder cases than delta, WHO says

Updated December 8, 2021 at 11:30 p.m. EST|Published December 8, 2021 at 4:43 a.m. EST

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World Health Organization officials said Wednesday that preliminary data suggest omicron presents a rapid increase in transmission but the variant causes milder cases of covid-19 than delta, which is still spreading across the globe.  

Here’s what to know

  • Nearly two years into the pandemic, every country, including the United States, remains dangerously unprepared to respond to future epidemic and pandemic threats, according to a report released Wednesday.
  • Early data from Pfizer and BioNTech suggest that two shots of their vaccine may not be sufficient to prevent infection from omicron and booster doses will be critical.
  • Crowded airports and gatherings are back this season. Our interactive guide will help you navigate them as safely as possible
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Nearly two years into the pandemic, every country, including the United States, remains dangerously unprepared to respond to future epidemic and pandemic threats, according to a report released Wednesday.
Early data from Pfizer and BioNTech suggest that two shots of their vaccine may not be sufficient to prevent infection from omicron and booster doses will be critical.
Crowded airports and gatherings are back this season. Our interactive guide will help you navigate them as safely as possible

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Coronavirus: What you need to know

End of the public health emergency: The Biden administration ended the public health emergency for the coronavirus pandemic on May 11, just days after WHO said it would no longer classify the coronavirus pandemic as a public health emergency. Here’s what the end of the covid public health emergency means for you.

Tracking covid cases, deaths: Covid-19 was the fourth leading cause of death in the United States last year with covid deaths dropping 47 percent between 2021 and 2022. See the latest covid numbers in the U.S. and across the world.

The latest on coronavirus boosters: The FDA cleared the way for people who are at least 65 or immune-compromised to receive a second updated booster shot for the coronavirus. Here’s who should get the second covid booster and when.

New covid variant: A new coronavirus subvariant, XBB. 1.16, has been designated as a “variant under monitoring” by the World Health Organization. The latest omicron offshoot is particularly prevalent in India. Here’s what you need to know about Arcturus.

Would we shut down again? What will the United States do the next time a deadly virus comes knocking on the door?

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