Variant B.1.1.529 was first reported to WHO by South Africa on November 24, 2021.
The new Covid variant B.1.1.529, first detected in southern Africa, was classified on Friday as a “concern” by the World Health Organization (WHO), and named “Omicron”
“Variant B.1.1.529 was first reported to WHO by South Africa on November 24, 2021 (…). This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are of concern,” said the expert panel tasked by WHO to monitor Covid-19.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday warned countries against imposing travel restrictions related to the new B.1.1.529 variant of COVID-19 in haste, saying they should take a “scientific and risk-based approach.”
Global authorities have reacted with concern to the new variant detected in South Africa. In particular, the EU and Britain tightened border controls, while scientists investigated whether the mutation was resistant to the vaccine.
“At this stage, implementation of travel measures is not recommended,” Lindmeier said at a U.N. briefing in Geneva. “WHO recommends that countries continue to apply a scientific and risk-based approach when implementing travel measures.”
