The more COVID-19 circulates, the more opportunities the virus 🦠 has to mutate and change.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

As I’ve said before, vaccine 💉 inequity is prolonging the COVID crisis, and this is exactly what we’re seeing with the arrival of Omicron.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

Countries should sustain their public health measures to limit transmission of the virus 🦠 and adjust them according to local transmission risks.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

This can be done by wearing masks 😷, frequent hand washing 🧼, maintaining physical distance 🧍⬅️➡️🧍‍♀️from others, and avoiding crowded spaces, especially indoors.

These measures are effective against all variants, including Omicron.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

Today, the most important thing people can do to protect themselves is to get vaccinated 💉and to reduce their risk of exposure to the virus 🦠

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

Speed and transparency are especially critical at this time.

But above all, we urge people not to be frightened.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

That’s why it’s important that countries redouble their surveillance efforts, share sequences 🧬 with the Genomic Surveillance Network of the Americas and report any Omicron cases to the @WHO

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

Canada and Brazil are the only countries in our region where the Omicron variant has been detected, but it is likely that other countries will begin seeing this new variant 🦠 in circulation soon.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

PAHO continues to closely track the other variants in our region and for now, Delta remains the predominant variant in the Americas 🌎

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19

Until these tests and other laboratory assays are completed, we will not have enough evidence to determine the degree of transmissibility or severity of the omicron variant 🦠, or to assess the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines against it.

@DirOPSPAHO #COVID19