Amid rapid Omicron variant spread and uncertainty about its impact, leaders in the United Kingdom and Germany have ruled out imposing strong new COVID-19 measures before Christmas, though measures are being planned or considered for the following week as New Year's Day nears.At a media briefing yesterday for Geneva-based media, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said evidence is consistent that Omicron (B.1.1.529) is spreading faster than Delta (B1617.2) and that it's more likely that vaccinated or recovered people can be infected or reinfected.He said there's no doubt that increased social mixing over the holidays will lead to more cases, overwhelmed health systems, and deaths.