The Omicron variant is spreading like wildfire. “Omicron is now 20% of contaminations” in France, and “undoubtedly 35% in Île-de-France”, Olivier Véran warned this Wednesday December 22, 2021 on BFMTV. “But ask me again in a couple of days, I will tell you this is one case in three”, he said, before adding this variant reported for the first time in South Africa “multiples every two to three days”.
Therefore, the Health Minister thinks the Omicron variant will be predominant in France “between Christmas and New Year’s Eve […] in all likelihood”. “And by the end of the month, there will be over 100,000 contaminations per day”, he added. A very high toll as 73,000 new Covid-19 cases have been reported this Monday December 20 in France.
During the BFMTV interview, Olivier Véran also confirmed the Omicron variant is “very contagious”. Based on the health situation noticed in the UK, the Health Minister yet said the strain does lead to a “hospitalization wave” at this stage and seems to be “sensitive to the vaccine”.