It said the number of people testing positive has risen in areas of South Africa affected by this variant, but epidemiologic studies are underway to understand if it is because of Omicron or other factors.
Tag: Omicron
Omicron is the new COVID variant on the block: five steps to avoid, ten to take immediately
The new variant – identified as B.1.1.529 has been declared a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation and assigned the name Omicron.
Omicron COVID variant spreads to more countries as world on alert
The UK on Saturday tightened its rules on mask-wearing and on testing of international arrivals after finding two cases. New cases were confirmed Saturday in Germany and Italy, with Belgium, Israel and Hong Kong also reporting that the variant has been found in travellers.
Being ‘punished’ for early detecting new COVID-19 variant Omicron: South Africa
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in a statement urged world leaders not to implement “knee-jerk” policy decisions in response to the detection of the Omicron variant.
COVID travel bans imposed on South Africa ‘draconian’, ‘misdirected’: Health Minister Joe Phaahla
The new COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529, first detected in South Africa this week, was on Friday designated as a “Variant of Concern” by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which named it “Omicron”.