Five cases have been confirmed in New York City and Long Island
Travelers from South Africa are tested for the coronavirus in a specially designed testing area at Schiphol airport on November 30 in the Netherlands. Photo: Remko De Waal/ANP/AFP via Getty Images In This Explainer A worrisome new COVID-19 variant recently identified in southern Africa was officially designated a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization on Friday. The WHO has also given the variant, B.1.1.529, the name Omicron.
“Population-level evidence suggests that the Omicron variant is associated with substantial ability to evade immunity from prior infection,” the authors wrote. In the briefing, they noted that 40 percent of the population has already had COVID and another 30 percent has been partially vaccinated. With Omicron cases taking off rapidly, they suggested that previous infections do not have much effect in stopping transmission of the virus.
As of now, the most concerning difference between Omicron and other known variants is that it has a “very unusual constellation of mutations,” according to Tulio de Oliveira, the director of South Africa’s Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation.
Again: More research — and patience — is needed. Many scientists, while alarmed, are cautioning against dire assumptions while that research is under way over the coming weeks.Scientists are watching to see if Omicron causes more severe illness.
The WHO also again advised against blanket travel bans. On Monday, it recommended countries boost their surveillance, testing, and vaccination efforts in light of the new variant, explaining that early data indicates Omicron represents a “very high” global risk. “Given mutations that may confer immune escape potential and possibly transmissibility advantage, the likelihood of potential further spread of Omicron at the global level is high,” the WHO said.
Another issue is how most or all of southern Africa has been targeted by the bans despite the fact that cases of Omicron have only been detected in two countries in the region. That means world leaders are guessing where the variant might already be.
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