The WHO said a new coronavirus variant in southern Africa was “of concern” and gave it the name Omicron

The latest post by  The New York Times on Twitter states, 

The New York Times

@nytimes

Breaking News: The WHO said a new coronavirus variant in southern Africa was “of concern” and gave it the name Omicron
nytimes.com
Source: The New York Times on Twitter, 26/11/2021
Scientists in South Africa announced on Thursday that they had identified the worrisome new variant, which might be more transmissible than others.
Within hours, Britain announced a ban on flights from South Africa and several other African countries.
On Friday evening, the World Health Organization  (WHO)  in a statement said the new variant  assigned the B.1.1.529 was “of concern” and gave it the name Omicron.
This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning,” the W.H.O. said in its official description.
So far  dozen cases of the new variant have been identified in South Africa, Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel.

Countries around the world moved to restrict travel from southern Africa on Friday in a frantic effort to keep a newly identified, and apparently significantly evolved, variant of the coronavirus from crossing their borders.

Earlier on Friday, the European Commission proposed that its member countries activate the “emergency brake” on travel from countries in southern Africa and other countries affected to limit the spread of the new variant.

Source: WHO on Twitter, 26/11/2021

The epidemiological picture suggests that this variant may be more transmissible, and several mutations are consistent with enhanced transmissibility.

Some of the variant’s mutations have also been associated with immune evasion, suggesting that existing vaccines may be less effective against it.

But the evidence is not yet clear. Studies are being conducted in South Africa, but will take several weeks to complete.

Among the governments that are now banning or restricting travellers from South Africa and other Southern African countries are those of Britain, Germany, Italy, Austria, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia, Israel and Hong Kong.
The restrictions mean the suspension of direct flights and a requirement for a lengthy quarantine for travellers from Southern Africa.

One flight from South Africa to the Netherlands on Friday was caught by the travel ban in the midst of its flight.

After the flight landed in Amsterdam, its passengers were required to remain on board the plane for several hours, and then were taken off to be tested for the virus.

WHO: “It will take a few weeks for us to understand what impact this variant has”.

Last Updated on 26.11.2021 by iskova