Omicron was in the Netherlands days earlier than first thought

BRUSSELS (AP) — Dutch wellness authorities accidental the omicron variant was already successful the Netherlands erstwhile South Africa alerted the World Health Organization astir it past week.

Tuesday's announcement is adding to fearfulness and disorder implicit the caller mentation of the coronavirus successful a weary satellite hoping it had near the worst of the pandemic behind.

The Netherlands’ RIVM wellness institute recovered omicron successful samples dating from Nov. 19 and 23. The WHO said South Africa archetypal reported the variant to the U.N. steadfast bureau connected Nov. 24.

It remains unclear wherever oregon erstwhile the variant archetypal emerged — but that hasn’t stopped wary nations from rushing to enforce question restrictions.

Much is inactive not known astir the variant — though the WHO warned that the planetary hazard from the variant is “very high” and aboriginal grounds suggests it could beryllium much contagious.

Much of the satellite is anxiously waiting to larn much astir the omicron variant, which was archetypal identified by researchers successful South Africa. Since then, it has appeared arsenic acold isolated arsenic Hong Kong, Australia, and Portugal. Canada, our neighbors to the north, person besides identified cases of the variant.

The World Health Organization has classified the omicron variant, different known arsenic B.1.1.529, arsenic a “variant of concern.” No cases of the variant person been identified successful the U.S. arsenic of Monday morning, but officials accidental it’s lone a substance of time.

“Sooner oregon later, we’re going to spot cases of this caller variant present successful the United States. We’ll person to look this caller threat, conscionable arsenic we faced those that’ve travel earlier it,” said President Joe Biden during remarks connected Monday.

Biden has said the variant, “is a origin for concern, not a origin for panic.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci told Biden that it volition instrumentality astir 2 much weeks to person much definitive accusation connected the transmissibility, severity, and different characteristics of the omicron variant, but the adept continues to judge that existing vaccines are apt to supply a grade of extortion against terrible cases of COVID-19, according to the White House.

The Biden medication says Fauci besides reiterated that boosters for afloat vaccinated individuals supply the strongest disposable extortion from COVID-19.

All adults are present eligible for a booster if they were vaccinated six months agone oregon much with Pfizer oregon Moderna, oregon 2 months agone oregon much with Johnson & Johnson. The COVID Response Team’s proposal to each vaccinated adults is to get a booster changeable arsenic soon arsenic possible.