B.1.1.529 variant or Omicron, was first reported to the WHO from South Africa on November 24th.
The first known confirmed infection was from a specimen collected on November 9th. The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution was convened on November 2nd to 6th, to assess the new variant. Scientists have expressed concern with Omicron since preliminary evidence suggests a faster rate of infection and increased risk of reinfection, a finding that was called a detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology.
The European Union, the U.K., Israel and Singapore are among countries to impose travel restrictions on southern African nations.