Moody’s Analytics said on Monday that the Omicron version of COVID-19 adds new uncertainties to the global economic outlook, but much will also depend on its speed of transmission, hospitalization and mortality, and the effectiveness of vaccines.
Moody’s Analytics, in its commentary titled ‘Much to Learn About Omicron – Fast’, said that although this version appears to be spreading “remarkably fast”, it will take at least two weeks to learn more about it. It said specific factors are to follow in the coming weeks for the Asia-Pacific region, as at least two cases of omicron have already been detected in Hong Kong and Australia.
“Will policymakers in this sector respond by accelerating vaccination programmes? Countries including Myanmar, Laos, Indonesia, India, Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam still vaccinate less than 65% of their population (aged 12 years and above),” it said.
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