The new face of Covid 19 - 22nd December 2021

People were hoping that Covid-19 was slowing down. But news about another variant, which is called Omicron, has shocked the world.

Omicron's spreading very quickly. It was first found by scientists at Lancet Laboratories in South Africa.

Some PCR tests had strange results. At first, they were unsure if there was a new virus or a new Covid variant. They studied the virus's DNA.

Professor Vardas manages the team at Lancet Laboratories. She shared the results with government scientists.

Professor Eftyxia Vardas: "We presented that data to them. And then they spoke to other people around the country that had, were also observing the same thing. And that was the discovery of Omicron."

Tests showed the team that Omicron was replacing the Delta variant. Delta had been the most dangerous variant, but Omicron was now spreading faster.

After this, many countries stopped travellers coming from South Africa and its neighbours. But cases of Omicron have appeared all over the world.

Professor Vardas believes more research is needed to understand Omicron.

Professor Eftyxia Vardas: "So, we're not sure what it is. Is it Omicron is a better virus and can be transmitted better? Or that people were letting their guards drop and congregating together and spreading it within certain groupings? So, you know, that can occur as well."

Scientists are working hard across the world. They're trying to understand what effect Omicron will have on the pandemic.

So far, World Health Organisation data are worrying. They show Omicron spreads very quickly. But this variant might cause a less serious illness.