EU official suggests Omicron will be dominant COVID variant by mid-January

The head of the European Union’s executive branch says that Omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the 27-nation bloc by mid-January, amid concerns that a dramatic rise in infections will leave Europe shrouded in gloom during the holiday season.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the EU is well prepared to fight Omicron, with 66.6% of the bloc’s population fully vaccinated. Von der Leyen expresses disappointment that the pandemic will again disrupt year-end celebrations but says she is confident the EU has the “strength” and “means” to overcome COVID-19.

“Like many of you, I’m sad that once again this Christmas will be overshadowed by the pandemic,” she says.

The head of the UK Health Security Agency, Dr. Jenny Harries, says Omicron is displaying a staggering growth rate compared to previous variants.

“The difficulty is that the growth of this virus, it has a doubling time which is shortening, i.e., it’s doubling faster, growing faster,” Harries tells a parliamentary committee. “In most regions in the UK, it is now under two days. When it started, we were estimating about four or five.”

Harries says the variant poses “probably the most significant threat we’ve had since the start of the pandemic.”