'Sheer weight of numbers' of Omicron will put hospitals under pressure

Dr Ryan said hospitals were likely to be impacted by the Omicron variant 'by sheer weight of numbers' of cases and urged hospitals to begin preparing

The WHO's Dr Mike Ryan said the world cannot 'vaccinate its way out' of the pandemic. File picture

The World Health Organisation's emergency programme head Dr Mike Ryan has warned that the "sheer weight of numbers" of Omicron cases will put hospital numbers under pressure. 

He urged hospitals to begin preparing. “Because whatever happens, a wave of Omicron, whether it’s less virulent or not, will generate pressure in the health system.”