The World Health Organization has named the B.1.1.529 Covid variant Omicron and says an advisory group has recommended that it should be designated as “of concern”

In a statement, WHO said preliminary evidence suggests the latest variant carries a “higher risk of re-infection than other variants of concern”.

The WHO added:

The first known confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on 9 November 2021. This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning.

Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other VOCs [variants of concern].

The number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all provinces in South Africa.

Europe classifies Omicron as 'variant of concern'

The European Centres for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has classified the newly-named Omicron variant, B.1.1.529, a “variant of concern”.

It is added to the group that already includes the Beta (formerly South African), Gamma (formerly Brazilian) and Delta (formerly Indian) variants.

The ECDC decision follows that of the World Health Organization earlier on Friday.