The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday categorised the latest COVID-19 variant first detected in South Africa as "of concern" and named it Omicron.
"This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning. Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of infection with this variant, as compared to other VOCs (variants of concerns)," the United Nations' health agency said in a statement.
The variant, known as B.1.1.529, has been named Omicron, following the WHO's decision to label variants of interest and concern using letters of the Greek alphabet.
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