SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

Covid-19's Omicron variant is creating obstacles to the global economy that will slow growth this year, especially the world's two largest economies, the IMF said.

Ljubljana – The central bank assessed in its latest publication, issued on Tuesday, that the aggravated epidemiological situation brought by an increased number of coronavirus infections with the Omicron variant has had a relatively small impact on the economy.

The Omicron variant has less severe infection than Delta, studies have shown

Get ready to learn more Greek letters - scientists have warned that the dizzying progress of the omicron strain practically ensures that it will not be the last version of the coronavirus that will worry the world.

Economic growth in the eurozone slowed sharply in January, a key survey has showed, as new coronavirus restrictions hit consumer spending, raising a new obstacle for the region's recovery.

He stated today that it would be dangerous to think that an extremely contagious omicron strain is the last to appear in the world and that this is the end of the pandemic.

Last week, workers' absences due to isolation and illness became so serious that the national government considered lowering the age limit for work permits, so that minors could be included in food supply chains, according to CNN.

"Bulgaria is already in the Omicron phase. Evidence of this is the continuing number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 and those admitted to intensive care units." This was commented by the former Minister of Health Dr. Mimi Vitkova on Nova TV.

"The good thing about Omicron is that a very low percentage of people are admitted to hospitals and a very low percentage have severe symptoms of the disease." This was said on the Bulgarian National Radio by Prof. Todor Kantardzhiev, advisor to the Sofia Municipality on health issues and former director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases.

The Omicron variant has moved the Covid pandemic into a new phase and is likely to bring it to an end in Europe, the World Health Organization's regional director for Europe said on Sunday.

"It is plausible that the region is moving towards the final phase of the pandemic," Hans Kluge told AFP, adding that Omicron could infect 60% of Europeans by March.