A new variant designated as Omicron by WHO yesterday was reported from Rep. South Africa.
BBC news says it is a heavily mutated variant with 50 loci of mutation. Among them, 30 are related with S protein and 10 with the receptor binding domain. Delta strain has only 2 for the latter domain. It seems mutation is remarked at loci involving infectivity of the strain. It is not clear yet whether it could evade immunity or not.
In a province of RSA, this strain has replaced Delta strain in a couple of weeks. There are already 2 infected in Hong Kong, who seem to have been infected through airbourne infection. Keep it in mind both of them have been vaccinated twice. There are no epidemiological findings reported on this strain yet. We should be careful about it possibly with even more contagious characteristics than previous strains.
As stated above, WHO has categorized this strain as VOC with the nomination of Omicron.
We should not be panic with this strain emerging in RSA. But, since it is getting into winter in the north hemisphere now, a season of vulnerability to viral infections, we should be even more conscious about precautions against COVID 19.
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