New Delhi:
The World Health Organization on Friday classified the B.1.1.529 strain of the coronavirus as a “variant of concern”. The variant of SARS-CoV-2, first detected in Africa’s Botswana, has been named Omicron.
The epidemiological situation in South Africa has been characterized by three distinct peaks in reported cases, the latest of which was predominantly the Delta variant, the WHO informed in a statement.
“In recent weeks, infections have increased steeply, coinciding with the detection of B.1.1.529 variant. The first known confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on 9 November 2021,” the statement said.
This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning. The number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all provinces in South Africa.
Based on the evidence presented indicative of a detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology, the Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) has advised the WHO that this variant should be designated as a VOC, and the WHO has designated B.1.1.529 as a VOC, named Omicron, the statement said.
The discovery of a new coronavirus variant sent a chill through much of the world Friday as nations raced to halt air travel, markets fell sharply and scientists held emergency meetings to weigh the exact risks.
Amid rising concern about the new variant, India’s Union Health Ministry has directed states to “rigorously’ screen and test people travelling from three countries–South Africa, Botswana, and Hong Kong– where the cases of the variant have been reported.
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