Variants of SARS-CoV-2

What do we know about the new SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant identified by the WHO as "alarming"? The answers are given by the President of the Bulgarian Society of Medical Virology and a member of the Expert Council of Virology under the Minister of Health - Prof. Dr. Radka Argirova, MD.

Why does the coronavirus mutate?

South African scientists have identified a new variant of the virus that causes COVID-19, and the World Health Organization gave it the spy fantastic name "omicron" within days, due to a series of mutations in its protein spikes, nanomechanical tentacles that connect and break into cells, scientific alarms have begun to sound off, writes Wired.

The WHO said on Nov. 30 that those not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 who are also vulnerable to the disease, including over-60s, should put off travel to areas with community transmission.

Bulgarian Experts: Omicron could Restart the Pandemic

Fatigue is one of the main symptoms of the new variant of the coronavirus - Omicron. This is explained by the President of the South African Medical Association Angelique Coetzee, writes Sky News.

The World Health Organization warned Monday the new COVID-19 Omicron variant poses a "very high" risk globally, despite uncertainties about the danger and contagion levels of the new strain.

Israel is to close its borders to all foreigners later on Nov. 28 in a bid to stem the spread of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, authorities said.

"The entry of foreign nationals into Israel is banned except for cases approved by a special committee," the prime minister's office said in a statement, adding that the measure would take effect on Sunday evening.

Turkish experts have urged the public to remain calm and not panic amid threats from the new COVID-19 strain, Omicron, but also called on people to get vaccinated and stick to anti-virus rules.

Turkey on Nov. 26 banned travel from five African nations, including South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, as a precaution against the new variant.

Nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is racing to contain a new coronavirus variant potentially more dangerous than the one that has fueled relentless waves of infection on nearly every continent.

Turkey, the United States, Brazil, Canada, and Saudi Arabia became the latest countries on Nov. 26 to restrict travel from southern Africa, where a new Covid strain labelled a "variant of concern" has been discovered in a potentially heavy blow to the world's efforts to end the coronavirus pandemic.