Omicron transmission will ‘fill up hospitals and ICUs’, WHO chief Mike Ryan warns

Dr Mike Ryan of the WHO

Cate McCurry

A drive in transmission of the Omicron variant will "fill up the hospitals and the ICUs", a global health leader has warned.

Dr Mike Ryan, executive director of World Health Organisation (WHO) health emergencies programme, said even if Omicron turns out to be a milder disease, the rising number of cases will lead to more people in hospital.