Omicron Variant
Dutch health authorities said the coronavirus variant was found in samples taken before South Africa first reported the variant to the World Health Organization.
The U.S. will “face this new threat just as we’ve faced those that have come before it,” President Joe Biden said.
Experts predict how the new COVID variant first identified in South Africa may affect vaccines, the pandemic and more.
Nations instituted travel bans and further restrictions, even as it remains unclear what the new variant means for the COVID-19 pandemic.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
GOP Rep. Ronny Jackson insisted that the highly transmissible variant is just a trick to "push" midterm mail-in ballots.
Governments around the world have reacted swiftly as scientists work to determine the risks posed by the omicron variant of the virus.
He said the COVID-19 variant will "inevitably" come to the U.S. if it is not already here and warned that it is "going to have an advantage in transmissibility."
Officials later confirmed that at least 13 had the omicron variant.
Israel moved to ban entry by foreigners and mandate quarantine for all Israelis arriving from abroad.
The virus has been described as a "variant of concern" by WHO officials.