New Covid strain found in South Africa classified as `Variant Of Concern` by WHO, named Omicron

The B.1.1.529 variant has a large number of mutations and is reportedly the fifth variant to be given the designation `of concern`

Johannesburg: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday designated a new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa with a large number of mutations as being "of concern", the fifth variant to be given the designation. The WHO said in a statement that it had assigned the B.1.1.529 variant the Greek letter Omicron.