Omicron Strain: How Dangerous It Is, Which Countries Have Detected It and How the World Is Responding

The strain may be even more contagious and dangerous than Delta.

In South Africa, scientists have discovered a new strain of the coronavirus, named Omicron, or technical designation B.1.1.529. We explain how dangerous this variant is, in which countries it has already been found and how the world is responding to the new threat. 

What is known about Omicron

All information about the strain is preliminary, since there is still no direct data, measured in experiments or observations, on its transmissibility, its ability to evade vaccine immunity, or the severity of the disease it causes. 

On November 23, scientists from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases of South Africa recorded the existence of this variant. Soon they realized that the situation required urgent attention from the WHO and scientists. 

As of today, only the following are known:

• a set of mutations characteristic of the variant
• the first genome sequences 
• data on its spread

Interestingly, the new strain carries an unusually high number of mutations — about 50 across the whole genome, 35 of which fall on the S protein. This means Omicron may be potentially more contagious than other strains, and potentially capable of evading neutralizing antibodies. 

It is still too early to make forecasts, but the emergence of a new strain capable of displacing Delta (which is highly contagious) from the population is alarming news. What is especially dangerous is that increased transmissibility is combined with a large set of mutations that could potentially allow the virus to evade immunity. 

But it cannot yet be stated as a fully proven fact that Omicron is indeed more contagious than Delta. 

What comes next

In the near future, sequencing data for several hundred new genomes from South Africa will emerge, and next week laboratory data can be expected on the ability of antibodies from vaccinated and previously infected people to bind the virus particles of the new strain. 

British epidemiologists will closely monitor the situation in the coming weeks, since they have the best new-variant monitoring system in the world. 

Only within a month can information be expected on whether infection with the new variant correlates with disease severity. 

How countries around the world are responding to the threat

Information about the new coronavirus strain has already led to the introduction of restrictions on passenger travel. 

In Israel, on November 27, new restrictions were approved to prevent the spread of Omicron. The new rules, which took effect overnight on November 28, bar foreign nationals from entering the country for 14 days unless they receive a special permit from a government committee. 

Only in early November (for the first time since the start of the pandemic) did Israel reopen to foreign tourism. 

The country also expanded mandatory quarantine for vaccinated Israelis arriving from abroad and gave the security agency permission to resume tracking infected people. 

Also, Israeli citizens returning from “red” countries will have to quarantine in designated state hotels until they receive a negative test result for the virus. The country’s Health Ministry confirmed one case of the strain and reported seven suspected cases. 

Germany has confirmed two cases of the new coronavirus strain. Bavaria’s health minister said the two infected people entered the country on November 24. The pair is now in self-isolation. 

Two travelers in quarantine in New South Wales (Australia) have tested positive for the Omicron strain. They arrived in Sydney from southern Africa on the evening of November 27. Both people are fully vaccinated, and the illness is asymptomatic. 

From November 28, all fully vaccinated travelers arriving in New South Wales must take a PCR test and self-isolate at their place of residence for at least 72 hours. 

Dominic Perrottet
Premier of New South Wales

It is clear today that the pandemic is not over yet. There are limits to what the state government and the federal government can do. These variants will get into the country, that is inevitable. We need to learn to live side by side with the virus and live side by side with the different strains of the virus that will come our way. And the best thing we can do is get vaccinated and get a booster. 

All travelers who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Malawi and the Seychelles within 14 days before arrival must be placed in hotel quarantine for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status.

EU recommendations

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said the new strain may be more resistant to vaccines and spread faster.

Experts at the ECDC recommend avoiding travel to areas where cases of infection with the new strain have been recorded, expanding testing and tracing contacts of coronavirus patients. 

EU countries are recommended to consider booster vaccination for people aged 40 and over to protect the most vulnerable groups. They are then advised to vaccinate adults aged 18 and over at least six months after completing the first vaccination course to increase protection against infection due to waning immunity. 

This could potentially reduce virus transmission in the population and prevent additional hospitalizations and deaths among patients.