I thank researchers from 🇿🇦 and 🇧🇼 for sharing information with @WHO & the world about B.1.1.529 variant that has been recently detected. We will convene our TAG-VE again today to discuss
— Maria Van Kerkhove (@mvankerkhove) November 26, 2021
Everyone out there: do not discriminate against countries that share their findings openly https://t.co/T9wV2wLUWm
. @WHO not messing around. New variant has jumped straight to variant of concern (VOC) list rather than variant of interest (VOI) and named Omicron. https://t.co/sWzHGSPZmh
— Dr Siouxsie Wiles (@SiouxsieW) November 26, 2021
BREAKING: An advisory panel of the World Health Organization classified a new COVID-19 variant first detected in South Africa as a highly transmissible virus of concern and named it “omicron” under its Greek-letter system. https://t.co/zYQuf5sXov
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 26, 2021
News of new Nu variant, but WHO is jumping the alphabet to call it Omicron, so they can avoid Xi. pic.twitter.com/UJ4xMwg52i
— Martin Kulldorff (@MartinKulldorff) November 26, 2021
Following the meeting of the @WHO TAG-VE today, WHO classifies B.1.1.529 as a variant of concern named Omicron.
— Maria Van Kerkhove (@mvankerkhove) November 26, 2021
We call for increased surveillance and genetic testing & thank 🇿🇦 for sharing their work in real time.
More information can be found here⬇️https://t.co/Ub0INuwHEd https://t.co/xwQPh8PDMj
Update #COVID19 in South Africa🇿🇦 26/11/2021
— Ridhwaan Suliman (@rid1tweets) November 26, 2021
The test positivity rate, a leading indicator of the #COVID19 trajectory in SA, on a steep upward climb: 9.1% today 📈
The 7-day rolling average is at 4.3%, up from 1.4% a week ago and 0.98% 14 days ago ⚠️#Rid1TweetsOnCovid #omicron pic.twitter.com/6s9CZ7jSEK
BREAKING—“Omicron Variant”—The World Health Organization designates the new #B11529 strain a "variant of concern" high priority risks rating and gives it the Greek name #Omicron. pic.twitter.com/FMv9WySEEd
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 26, 2021
Get jabbed.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 26, 2021
And if you’re double-jabbed, get boosted.
This new covid variant could get very serious very quickly, so protect yourself as best you can. #omicron
The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution met today to review what is known about the #COVID19 variant B.1.1.529.
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) November 26, 2021
They advised WHO that it should be designated a Variant of Concern.
WHO has named it Omicron, in line with naming protocols https://t.co/bSbVas9yds pic.twitter.com/Gev1zIt1Ek
RT– The World Health Organization (WHO) has named the new Covid-19 variant first detected in southern Africa “Omicron”, the UN health agency said after a meeting on Friday.
The global health agency met on Friday to name the B.1.1.529 strain and decided to classify it as a “variant of concern,” rather than the less serious designation “variant of interest.”
The Delta variant, which caused surging Covid-19 infections around the globe after it was first detected in late December 2020, was also categorized as a variant of concern by the WHO earlier this year.
The agency adopted the practice of naming variants after letters in the Greek alphabet, at least partly to avoid geographic stigmas being attached to the areas where they were first identified. Many observers had expected B.1.1.529 to be named “Nu”.
As for Omicron, the WHO said the strain has a large number of mutations, some of which are troubling. “Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other strains,” the agency said.
That statement came after WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier cautioned governments against imposing travel restrictions to block the spread of Omicron. He said that it will take a few weeks for scientists to assess how transmissible and virulent the new variant is, as well as its ability to evade vaccine-induced immunity.
Many countries are choosing to act right away with travel bans and quarantines in a bid to limit Omicron from spreading, rather than first waiting for research to be completed. Europe’s first confirmed case of the variant was identified on Friday in Belgium. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for all air travel between the EU and countries with reported cases of Omicron to be suspended while the risks are assessed.
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