German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach warned Friday of a "massive fifth wave" of the coronavirus the country is facing with the arrival of the Omicron variant.

"We must prepare for a challenge that we have not yet had in this form," he said at a press conference after meeting with his British counterpart.

He said although symptoms of the Omicron variant may be milder, this might "keep deaths low for two to three weeks, before the growth of the virus would eat up this advantage."