The new Omicron coronavirus variant has been confirmed in 23 .countries and their number is expected to rise, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.

Tedros said the emergence of the Omicron variant has understandably captured global attention.

"At least 23 countries from five of six WHO regions have now reported cases of Omicron and we expect that number to grow. WHO takes this development extremely seriously," Tedros during a press conference.

WHO takes this development extremely seriously, and so should every country. But it should not surprise us. This is what viruses do. And it's what this virus will continue to do, as we long as we allow it to continue spreading,"he added.

Tedros said that WHO is learning more all the time about Omi Omicron, but there's still more to learn about its effect on transmission, the severity of disease, and the effectiveness of tests, therapeutics and vaccines.

(With inputs from agencies)