the brand new ‘Omicron’ Covid-19 Variant Spreading in Southern Africa: What to know

After scientists identified a brand new variant of the virus causing Covid-19, nations restricted travel to and from southern Africa. WSJ’s Anna Hirtenstein explains that buyers have became to bonds and gold as they put together for extra knowledge disruption. picture: Sumaya Hisham/Reuters

Governments worldwide, together with the U.S., have restricted trip from southern Africa in an effort to contain the speedy-spreading new Omicron variant of the coronavirus. the area fitness firm on Friday declared Omicron, which is also referred to as B.1.1.529, a “variant of challenge,” indicating that it incorporates greater dangers than other virus traces. here's what we recognize to this point.

What has the WHO referred to concerning the Omicron variant?

the realm fitness organization said there become preliminary facts that the variant, which changed into first detected on Nov. 9, might pose a stronger possibility of people falling sick with Covid-19 for a 2nd time. It also observed that the variant could be greater transmissible than other traces of the coronavirus, citing Omicron’s quick unfold in South Africa over the last two weeks.