New COVID variant Omicron … What is it? – ARAB TIMES – KUWAIT NEWS – Arab Times Kuwait English Daily

New COVID variant Omicron … What is it? – ARAB TIMES – KUWAIT NEWS – Arab Times Kuwait English Daily

LONDON, Nov 27, (AP): What is this new COVID-19 variant? South African scientists identified a new version of the coronavirus this week that they say is behind a recent spike in COVID-19 infections in Gauteng, the country’s most populous province. It’s unclear where the new variant first emerged, but scientists in South Africa first alerted the World Health Organization and it has now been seen in travelers to Belgium, Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel. Health Minister Joe Phaahla said the variant was linked to an “exponential rise” of cases in the last few days, although experts are still trying to determine if the new variant is actually responsible.

People line up to get on the Air France flight to Paris at OR Tambo’s airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, Nov. 26, 2021. A slew of nations moved to stop air travel from southern Africa on Friday in reaction to news of a new, potentially more transmissible COVID-19 variant that has been detected in South Africa. Scientists say it is a concern because of its high number of mutations and rapid spread among young people in Gauteng, the country’s most populous province. (AP)

From just over 200 new confirmed cases per day in