The WHO declared the recently-discovered B.1.1.529 strain of COVID-19 to be a variant of concern and renamed it Omicron
"Based on the evidence presented indicative of a detrimental change in Covid-19 epidemiology... the WHO has designated B.1.1.529 as a variant of concern , named Omicron," the UN health agency said in a statement.
"This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning," the WHO said, pointing to worrying characteristics."Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other VOCs." As for testing for the strain, the WHO added:"Current SARS-CoV-2 PCR diagnostics continue to detect this variant."
"These proven public health measures, have never been more important," she said, citing distancing, mask-wearing, avoiding crowded spaces, good ventilation,"and when it's your turn, get vaccinated".Apart from South Africa, Omicron has been detected in Israel in a person coming from Malawi; Botswana; Belgium and Hong Kong.
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