The New Omicron Variant Fuels Global Fear of Another Virus Surge

Source:    Published:2021-12-01     Hist:

On Nov. 26, the World Health Organization named the Omicron variant of the coronavirus a new variant of concern. So far it has been detected in South Africa and Botswana, as well as in travelers to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Hong Kong.

The variant was identified on Nov. 25 by scientists in South Africa. Preliminary tests suggest that it has been spreading rapidly there, but researchers have yet to determine if it truly is more contagious than other variants.

Just two days after the world learned of the variant, the World Health Organization officially labeled it a “variant of concern,” its most serious category — the first since the Delta variant, which emerged a year ago. The designation means that the variant has mutations that might make it more contagious or more virulent, or make vaccines and other preventive measures less effective — though none of those effects has yet been established.

The W.H.O. and scientists on multiple continents cautioned that very little is known yet about the Omicron variant, or about whether the dangers it poses will justify the fears it is stoking. South African scientists announced its existence on Wednesday, and the number of cases definitively identified, all of them within the past three weeks, is still small, under 100.

But the swift global responses demonstrated that after nearly two years of facing accusations that they were too slow and timid in tackling the pandemic, many policymakers would rather risk overreacting to a new threat than underreacting.

A growing number of countries are restricting travel from southern African countries. Israel, Morocco and Japan are banning all foreign travelers. The United States announced travel restrictions from eight countries in southern Africa. Britain announced restrictions from two additional countries. The European Union is also considering restrictions. Omicron carries about 50 mutations not seen in combination before, including more than 30 mutations on the spike protein that the coronavirus uses to attach to human cells.