WEF postpones Davos meeting due to Omicron spread

• The meeting was scheduled from January 17 to January 21

• WEF blamed the transmissibility of Omicron and its impact on travel for the delay

The World Economic Forum on Monday postponed the annual meeting of world leaders, billionaires and executives in Davos, Switzerland due to uncertainty over Omicron spread.

The group said in a release, “The World Economic Forum will defer its Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, in the light of continued uncertainty over the Omicron outbreak.”

“It is now planned for early summer.”

The meeting was scheduled from January 17 to January 21 focusing on “economic, environmental, political and social fault-lines exacerbated by the pandemic.”

WEF said the transmissibility of Omicron and its impact on travel has made it difficult to hold the in-person meeting next month.

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The event, which is considered important for international relations, is held annually in Davos with the aim to discuss global issues.

US President Joe Biden had been expected to skip the meeting. Former President Donald Trump attended WEF twice, in 2018 and 2020.

Omicron spread

The meeting is delayed as the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly globally with many countries imposing travel ban and other restrictions.

The World Health Organization said that the variant had been found in 89 countries so far and the number of cases is doubling every 1.5 to 3 days in areas with community transmission.

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Last year, WEF had to cancel the event scheduled to take place in Singapore in August. The January meeting was delayed until the summer of this year.

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