At least 35 countries have now reported Omicron (B.1.1.529) COVID-19 variant cases, as South Africa's outbreak involving the virus continues to grow steeply with the impacts now affecting both older and younger people.And while the world braces for the impact of the latest variant, Delta (B1617.2) activity continued at high levels in Europe, with signs that the virus is picking up steam again in the United Kingdom.Signs of community spread in multiple nationsIn an epidemiologic update today, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said that globally there are 486 confirmed cases in 35 countries, including 16 nations in the European Union/European Economic Area region.Though most case-patients have a history of travel