Bill Gates, in a series of tweets aimed at alerting the public to the worrisome surge in Omicron worldwide, warned on Tuesday of an abundant need for caution as we approach the peak of the festive season, sharing that he too has canceled most of his holiday plans.
Noting that his close friends have increasingly been getting infected with the virus, the billionaire Microsoft co-founder urged his followers to take cognizance of the fact that we "could be entering the worst part of the pandemic".
Just when it seemed like life would return to normal, we could be entering the worst part of the pandemic. Omicron will hit home for all of us. Close friends of mine now have it, and I've canceled most of my holiday plans.
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) December 21, 2021
Mr Gates' tweets emphasised the danger of the Omicron variant, particularly in relation to it's reinfection rate, as well as the frighteningly little knowledge we collectively possess about the strain.
"Omicron is spreading faster than any virus in history. It will soon be in every country in the world," tweeted Mr Gates.
"The big unknown is how sick omicron makes you...Even if it's only half as severe as delta, it will be the worst surge we have seen so far because it's so infectious," he added in a subsequent tweet.
His warnings come at a time when the United States is witnessing an astronomical surge in the Omicron variant, with the share of US Covid infections that Omicron accounts for jumping from 3 per cent to 73 per cent in the space of a single week.
Omicron is spreading faster than any virus in history. It will soon be in every country in the world.
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) December 21, 2021
The big unknown is how sick omicron makes you. We need to take it seriously until we know more about it. Even if it's only half as severe as delta, it will be the worst surge we have seen so far because it's so infectious.
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) December 21, 2021
Stressing just how vital Covid precautions are at this time, Mr Gates implored a firm return to "wearing masks, avoiding big indoor gatherings, and getting vaccinated".
"Getting a booster gives the best protection," noted one of his tweets.
In the meantime, we all have to look out for each other, especially the most vulnerable, whether they live down the street or in another country. That means wearing masks, avoiding big indoor gatherings, and getting vaccinated. Getting a booster gives the best protection.
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) December 21, 2021
There will be more breakthrough cases in people who are vx'd, which sounds concerning but is purely a factor of how many people are vx'd and how fast this variant is spreading. Vaccines are designed to prevent people from getting seriously ill or dying & are doing that well.
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) December 21, 2021
Finally, bringing his urgent recommendations to a close, Mr Gates attempted to end his Omicron awareness thread on a positive note. "If there's good news here, it's that omicron moves so quickly that once it becomes dominant in a country, the wave there should last less than 3 months," said the Microsoft co-founder.
"It won't be like this forever. Someday the pandemic will end, and the better we look after each other, the sooner that time will come."
If there's good news here, it's that omicron moves so quickly that once it becomes dominant in a country, the wave there should last less than 3 months. Those few months could be bad, but I still believe if we take the right steps, the pandemic can be over in 2022.
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) December 21, 2021
I know it's frustrating to go into another holiday season with COVID looming over us. But it won't be like this forever. Someday the pandemic will end, and the better we look after each other, the sooner that time will come.
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) December 21, 2021
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