The Omicron variant appears to be no worse than other coronavirus strains and is highly unlikely to completely evade vaccine protections and, said top WHO and US scientists on Tuesday amid growing public health concerns.

The hopeful assessments came as global concern grew over the mutated variant, which has forced dozens of nations to re-impose border restrictions and raised the possibility of a return of economically punishing lockdowns. While it is likely more transmissible than previous variants, Omicron is also “highly unlikely” to completely evade vaccine protections, the World Health Organization’s second-in-command said on Tuesday.