Omicron now detected in 27 countries worldwide

The new COVID-19 variant has now been detected in at least 27 countries worldwide.

OMICRON CIRCULATING THE GLOBE

The World Health Organization (WHO) named the Omicron variant of the coronavirus a new variant of concern.

With the discovery of the new variant – especially one that has over 30 mutations – there’s always an element of panic that comes as part of the package.

THE WORLD SHUT ITS DOORS TO SA

When Omicron was declared by South African scientists last week, the world shut its doors to the country.

The WHO has critised efforts to impose travel bans on southern African nations, stating that they place “a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods.”

It now looks like our ‘virus without borders’ was actually circulating the globe long before some countries decided to impose travel bans on South Africa.

ALSO READ: Omicron spread could be our first step OUT of the pandemic – here’s why

LATEST LIST OF COUNTRIES THAT HAVE CONFIRMED CASES

Here’s a list of the places reporting cases so far:

South Africa
Botswana,

Photo: The New York Times

GOOD NEWS… OR TOO EARLY TO SAY?

ALSO READ: The mild variant? WHO official encouraged by new Omicron data…

Meanwhile, several leading scientists have already moved to quell fears about the new strain of COVID-19.

And even representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO) are buoyed by these early findings.

THE MAJORITY OF CASES HAVE BEEN MILD

In the cases of Omicron infections studied so far, an overwhelming majority of cases have been ‘mild’.

That was the message shared by one WHO official on Wednesday, who also stated that vaccines would neutralise the mutation.

The SA Medical Association, several British scientists, and health officials in Israel have all gone on record to report that mild infections are prevalent in Omicron-positive cases.