The World Health Organisation has named the B.1.1.529 Covid variant Omicron and says an advisory group has recommended that it should be designated as “of concern.”
In a statement, WHO said preliminary evidence suggests the latest variant carries a “higher risk of re-infection than other variants of concern”.
The WHO added: “The first known confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on 9 November 2021. This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning.
“Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other VOCs [variants of concern].
“The number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all provinces in South Africa.
Following this, European Union member states have agreed to restrict travel from seven African countries, according to Eric Mamer, the European Commission spokesperson.
Eric Mamer said: “Member States agreed to introduce rapidly restrictions on all travel into the EU from 7 countries in the Southern Africa region: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe.”
Tests, quarantine & contact tracing for incoming passengers are important, he added.
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