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A sign marking the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. (AP/Yonhap News)

The World Health Organization said that given its rapid spread, the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus could replace Delta, which is the dominant variant of the virus at present. The WHO remained hesitant to endorse reports that Omicron’s symptoms are mild, only stating that “more data are needed.”

“Based on current limited evidence, Omicron appears to have a growth advantage over Delta. It is spreading faster than the Delta variant in South Africa where Delta circulation was low, but also appears to spread more quickly than the Delta variant in other countries where the incidence of Delta is high, such as in the United Kingdom,” the WHO said in a technical brief published on Sunday.

“Whether Omicron’s observed rapid growth rate in countries with high levels of population immunity is related to immune evasion, intrinsic increased transmissibility, or a combination of both remains uncertain. However, given the current available data, it is likely that Omicron will outpace the Delta variant where community transmission occurs.”

This report updates one that was published after Omicron was first discovered at the end of last month.

In addition, the WHO remained circumspect about claims that Omicron’s symptoms are relatively mild.

“While preliminary findings from South Africa suggest it may be less severe than Delta, and all cases reported in the EU/EEA to date have been mild or asymptomatic, it remains unclear to what extent Omicron may be inherently less virulent. More data are needed to understand the severity profile,” the WHO said in its brief.

While the WHO voiced concern about the possibility that COVID-19 vaccines are less effective against the Omicron variant, it didn’t reach a definite conclusion on the issue. “There are limited available data, and no peer-reviewed evidence, on vaccine efficacy or effectiveness to date for Omicron,” the WHO said.

In a related development, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, has been confirmed to be infected with the virus. Ramaphosa’s office said that he’d tested positive for COVID-19 following feeling sick after attending a memorial ceremony for Frederik Willem de Klerk, former state president of South Africa, on Sunday.

The South African COVID-19 caseload has been rising dramatically since the Omicron variant was first reported on Nov. 24. On Nov. 25, the country had 2,465 new cases of COVID-19; by Dec. 12, its caseload had risen more than 15-fold to 37,875 new cases.

The presidential office didn’t mention whether Ramaphosa had contracted the Omicron variant.

By Cho Ki-weon, staff reporter

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