Mentioning Omicron Variant Could Be Dominant In Mid-January, European Commission President: I'm Sad

European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. (Wikimedia Commons/European Parliament)

JAKARTA - The head of the European Union's executive branch said on Wednesday that the Omicron variant is expected to become the dominant coronavirus variant in European Union countries by mid-January, amid fears of a dramatic increase in infections will leave Europe shrouded in gloom over the holiday season.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union was well prepared to combat the Omicron variant with 66.6 percent of the bloc's population fully vaccinated.

At the same time, von der Leyen expressed disappointment the pandemic would again disrupt year-end celebrations but said she believed the European Union had the "strengths" and "means" to tackle COVID-19.

"Like many of you, I am sad this Christmas once again will be overshadowed by the pandemic," she said, as reported by AP, December 15.

Continental Europe can look to the UK for a feel for what lies ahead as the Omicron variant spreads.

Von der Leyen said the European Union faced a double challenge, with a massive increase in cases in recent weeks due to the delta variant combined with the emergence of Omicron.

"We are seeing an increase in the number of people falling ill, a greater burden on hospitals, and unfortunately, an increase in the number of deaths," she told MEPs.

Von der Leyen insisted the increase in infections remained "almost exclusively" in the Delta variant.

"And what I'm concerned about is, we are now seeing a new variant of Omicron on the horizon, which seems even more infectious," she added.

According to Tuesday's analysis of data from South Africa, where the new variant is driving a spike in infections, omicron appears to be more easily spread from person to person and better at avoiding vaccines, but also milder.

Von der Leyen said fighting vaccine skepticism was key, especially in EU member states with lower vaccination rates.

"Because the price we will pay if people are not vaccinated continues to rise. This is also a problem for our elderly citizens, who once again this Christmas cannot see their grandchildren. And it is also a problem for children who are once again unable to go to school. What kind of life is that?" she exclaimed.

Meanwhile, the Head of the UK's Health Safety Board, Dr. Jenny Harries, said, the Omicron variant showed a surprising growth rate compared to the previous variant.

"The difficulty is that the growth of this virus, it has a shorter doubling time, which is two times as fast, it is growing faster," Harries told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday.

"In most parts of the UK, it's under two days now. When it started we were expecting around four or five."

Harries said the variant "is probably the most significant threat we have had since the start of the pandemic."

To note, the alarming increase in cases as winter approaches and the Delta variant remains on the loose, prompting many European governments to implement public health measures as excessive deaths increase during the fall.