The risk posed by the rapidly-spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19 is still "very high," the World Health Organization said Wednesday.  

"The overall risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron remains very high. Consistent evidence shows that the Omicron variant has a growth advantage over the Delta variant with a doubling time of two to three days and rapid increases in the incidence of cases is seen in a number of countries," the WHO said in its COVID-19 weekly epidemiological update.