Conclusions on the transmissibility and severity of the impact of the Omicron variant, and the effect of prior immunity from vaccination or infection cannot be made yet at this early stage.

However, Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary Dr James Fong said preliminary evidence indicated that it did not make people sicker than the Delta variant and other strains.

He said if anything, the direction was towards less severity.

“We are aware of misinformation being peddled widely on social media. We again emphasise that this data is very early and more will be known once more people, including the most vulnerable, get infected,” Dr Fong said.

“… This variant may be more transmissible than the Delta variant; it may cause reinfection in people who have been previously infected with another variant; and it has been seen to infect people who are fully vaccinated – although, so far, the fully vaccinated cases have been generally mild or with no symptoms. “

Dr Fong said he remained extremely concerned at the lack of adherence to COVID safe measures in gatherings throughout the country, especially the adherence to masking in indoor public spaces.