With the growing number of companies reporting cases of the Omicron variant, nations are shutting borders, covid-19 restrictions are returning, global markets are bracing for a crucial week ahead. WION reporters are tracking all the latest developments of the new deadly variant.

WION tracks spread of new covid-19 variant Omicron

The World Health Organization has declared the recently-discovered B.1.1.529 strain of COVID-19, to be a variant of concern and renamed it Omicron. The variant was first detected in southern Africa. WION brings you some of the FAQs about this new strain.

What do we know about the Omicron variant?

The omicron strain of the coronavirus is cropping up across Europe. The European Commission chief said that the world is in a race against time to understand the new COVID-19 variant.

Omicron adds to Europe’s growing Covid woes, Britain to convene urgent meeting

The arrival of the Omicron variant in Britain has sent covid infection cases spiraling. Britain has recorded the highest daily cases since the pandemic hit the country last year. Over 78,000 new cases have been confirmed in the UK in just one day.

Omicron variant: UK confirms over 78,000 covid cases in last 24 hours

Moderna Inc has claimed that its vaccine helps prevent the rapidly spreading Omicron variant. First discovered in South Africa, the new Covid variant has now spread into 89 countries in total.

Moderna says its booster shot is effective against Omicron variant

With looming uncertainty over the Omicron variant and subsequent global alarms, in the latest providing some clarity, WHO chief said that there is an increased risk of reinfection from this variant, however, there is evidence that it causes milder diseases as compared to Delta variant.

WHO: Omicron more transmissible but milder than Delta variant

Omicron chaos: A list of countries that have reported cases of new variant

As the Omicron variant continues to spread at a fast pace, the World Health Organisation announced that the variant is now in 89 countries in total. There is not much information on this newly discovered variant.

Omicron has now spread to 89 countries: WHO

In what comes as a shocking revelation, scientific advisors to Britain's government has said that it was "almost certain" that thousands of people are being infected with the new Omicron variant every day.

Many more infected with Omicron variant than reported, say UK scientists

Despite taking several measures to keep a check on the spread of Omicron, 12 more people have tested positive for new Covid variant in Delhi on Friday. The total number of cases has reached to 22.

Omicron variant: 12 new cases surface in Indian capital

Even as the country is witnessing a drop in the number of coronavirus cases, four new cases of Omicron variant have come up in India’s national capital, New Delhi.

Covid's Omicron variant: Four new cases identified in India’s capital

As Omicron cases are rapidly spreading all across the world, a latest study has revealed that a three-shot course of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine offers protection against the new variant, Omicron.

Israeli study finds Pfizer booster to be effective against Omicron variant

To keep a check on the spread of Omicron variant of coronavirus in the country, Israel has extended its tough travel restrictions for 10 days. It has imposed entry ban on all foreign nationals.

With Omicron variant on mind, Israel extends travel restrictions for 10 days

Thailand has detected its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant in a U.S. citizen who had travelled to the country from Spain late last month, a health official said on Monday.

Omicron scare: Thailand reports first case of new Covid variant

While the world struggles to battle with the delta variant, another variant of Covid has already emerged. The World Health Organization's chief scientist, Soumya Swaminathan, has said that the Omicron variant could become dominant because it is highly transmissible.

Omicron variant highly transmissible, could become dominant, says WHO's top scientist

With the continuous emergence of new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, scientists are looking to understand the role of people with compromised immune systems in the origin of these tormenting mutations of the virus.

Is Covid variants' origin linked to immunocompromised people?

The new coronavirus variant, Omicron, is spreading in Australia. A cluster in Sydney has already grown to 13 cases. An infection was also suspected to have reached the state of Queensland.

Omicron variant spreads in Australia as authorities look to reopen economy

Life in India was coming back to normal after experiencing a deadly second wave earlier this year. Just when everyone thought things are going to be just how they were before the Delta variant hit the nation, another variant of Covid, namely Omicron, emerged in South Africa.

Omicron: How well-prepared is India to tackle a possible spread of new Covid variant?

Heavily mutated Omicron is rapidly becoming the dominant variant of the coronavirus in South Africa less than four weeks after it was first detected there, and the United States on Wednesday became the latest country to identify an Omicron case within its borders.

New Covid variant Omicron rapidly dominating in South Africa

Even as the world is tensed over the emergence of a new Covid variant Omicron, a debate seems to have begun over its pronunciation. The development comes as the BBC pronounced it as 'OM-mi-cron'.

Debate over new Covid variant Omicron’s pronunciation begins  

The Omicron variant of Covid, which was first detected in South Africa, has caused a situation of panic all across the globe. Few scientists from the UK have said that it might become a prevalent strain in the region in the upcoming days.

Scientists analyse the impact on Omicron variant; here are the three scenarios

In a wrenchingly familiar cycle of tracking first cases, pointing fingers and banning travel, nations worldwide reacted Monday to the omicron variant of the coronavirus in the piecemeal fashion that has defined and hobbled the pandemic response all along.

Fragmented reactions hinder global fight against Omicron variant

The World Health Organization on Monday warned that the newly discovered Covid-19 Omicron variant poses a "very high" risk globally. "If another major surge of Covid-19 takes place driven by Omicron, consequences may be severe," WHO said.

Risk related to Omicron Covid variant is 'very high' globally, warns WHO

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, said that the world was in "race against time", to understand the new Covid variant. She hinted that if situation required, vaccines would need to be modified to counter the threat of Omicron variant.

World in 'race against time' to tackle Omicron Covid variant, says EU chief

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