Coverage dated November 28, 2021 to December 3, 2021

Omicron-stricken South Africa may be glimpse into future for other countries

Headline from FOX 61 Hartford, on the newest of 3 developments

While more than three dozen countries worldwide have reported omicron COVID-19 infections, the numbers so far are small outside of South Africa.

FOX 61 Hartford's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

3 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

Nov 29, 2021
Omicron brings COVID-19 vaccine inequity ‘home to roost’
Headline from The Columbian ·
Dec 1, 2021
Omicron Covid Variant Likely Circulating for Longer — and More Widely — Than Thought, Experts Say
Headline from NBC 6 South Florida ·
Dec 3, 2021Newest
Omicron-stricken South Africa may be glimpse into future for other countries
Headline from FOX 61 Hartford ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

221 articles, oldest first.

NBC News
WHO warns omicron poses 'very high' global risk as variant spreads (opens NBC News)
Published Nov 28, 2021
NBC News's feed description
The global risk of the new omicron variant is “very high,” the World Health Organization said Monday,
The Hill
Several companies are already developing omicron vaccines (opens The Hill)
Published Nov 28, 2021
The Hill's feed description
The World Health Organization (WHO) designated the omicron variant as a “variant of concern.”
Local News 8
The new Omicron variant is a reminder that 'the virus is still in control' regardless of COVID-19 fatigue, medical professor says (opens Local News 8)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Local News 8's feed description
The new Omicron variant might prompt a return to stricter COVID-19 measures if not enough people get vaccinated or boosted, health experts say.
Thv11
Canada reports 1st omicron variant COVID cases as world races to learn more (opens Thv11)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Thv11's feed description
As governments around the world place new border restrictions, scientists caution that it's not clear if the omicron variant is more alarming than others.
The Guardian
Omicron Covid variant poses very high global risk, says WHO (opens The Guardian)
Published Nov 28, 2021
The Guardian's feed description
UN agency urges acceleration of vaccination of high-priority groups to tackle spread of variant
Newsweek
Omicron and the COVID vaccine: What to know about new variant (opens Newsweek)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Newsweek's feed description
Omicron has the potential to render vaccines less effective but officials are still urging people to get inoculated with vaccines that are currently available.
NBC10 Philadelphia
Omicron Covid Variant Poses ‘Very High' Global Risk and Is Likely to Spread, WHO Warns (opens NBC10 Philadelphia)
Published Nov 28, 2021
NBC10 Philadelphia's feed description
The omicron Covid variant is likely to spread further and poses a “very high” global risk, according to the World Health Organization.
Newsweek
How worried Americans should be about Omicron COVID variant (opens Newsweek)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Newsweek's feed description
Experts spoke to Newsweek about the new variant that has been classified as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization.
Quartz
When will we know how well covid-19 vaccines work for the omicron variant? (opens Quartz)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Quartz's feed description
Scientists expect to have a least a preliminary answer to that question pretty quickly.
Newsweek
Why Omicron might be more dangerous than other COVID variants (opens Newsweek)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Newsweek's feed description
Omicron became the fastest variant to go from discovery to being classified as variant of concern by the World Health Organization on Friday.
MedicalXpress
What experts know about the Omicron 'variant of concern' (opens MedicalXpress)
Published Nov 28, 2021
MedicalXpress's feed description
(HealthDay)—Hopes for an easing of the pandemic were dealt a major setback over the Thanksgiving weekend, with news that a variant first spotted in southern Africa carries a multiplicity of mutations that might make it resistant to approved vaccines.
Local News 8
Vaccine inequity and hesitancy made the Omicron variant more likely, scientists say (opens Local News 8)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Local News 8's feed description
Many of the world's richest countries have spent the past year hoarding coronavirus vaccines, buying up enough doses to vaccinate their populations several times over and consistently failing to deliver on their promises to share doses with the developing world.
The Guardian
Omicron Covid variant prompts nervous governments to impose travel curbs (opens The Guardian)
Published Nov 28, 2021
The Guardian's feed description
Japan, Israel and Australia bring in tough travel measures; Joe Biden says variant is ‘cause for concern, not for panic’
Washington Examiner
Doctor who raised alarm about omicron COVID-19 variant says 'no reason' to panic (opens Washington Examiner)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Washington Examiner's feed description
The doctor credited with alerting South African authorities about the omicron variant of COVID-19 warned against overreacting as medical experts advise to prepare for the worst and countries including the United States implement new travel restrictions to stem its spread.
Forbes
WHO Says Delta, Boosting Vaccination Still Agency’s ‘Priority’ As First Cases Of Omicron Variant Detected In North America, Scotland (opens Forbes)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Forbes's feed description
The delta variant is still responsible for over 99% of Covid-19 cases and more deaths occur in the unvaccinated, the agency’s chief scientist said Monday, after Canada identified North America’s first two omicron cases.
Insider
NIH director Francis Collins says there's 'reason to be pretty optimistic' vaccines will be effective against the Omicron variant (opens Insider)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Insider's feed description
National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins urged people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as he spoke about the Omicron variant.
Local News 8
Coronavirus variants: Here's what we know (opens Local News 8)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Local News 8's feed description
By Maggie Fox, CNN Omicron, the newest coronavirus variant, is also the quickest to be labeled a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization because of its seemingly fast spread in South Africa and its many troubling mutations.
Fast Company
Omicron variant: what we do and don’t know about spread, transmission, symptoms, and more (opens Fast Company)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Fast Company's feed description
The newest Covid-19 variant has gripped headlines and governments, yet there’s still much we don’t know about it.
Newsweek
Omicron COVID variant, with worrying mutations, detected in these countries (opens Newsweek)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Newsweek's feed description
Several countries have restricted travel after World Health Organization designated the heavily mutated form of COVID a variant of concern.
Al Jazeera
WHO warns Omicron variant poses ‘very high’ global risk (opens Al Jazeera)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Al Jazeera's feed description
Omicron variant could have ‘severe consequences’ in some places, WHO says, as the world grapples to halt its spread.
Fox News
Omicron variant poses ‘very high’ global risk, ‘unprecedented number of spike mutations’: WHO (opens Fox News)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Fox News's feed description
The COVID-19 omicron variant has an “unprecedented number of spike mutations” and poses a “very high” global risk, the World Health Organization said Monday.
Local News 8
US health officials urge more vaccinations as they work to answer 3 key questions about the new Omicron variant (opens Local News 8)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Local News 8's feed description
By Susannah Cullinane, CNN US health officials are urging Americans not to be complacent and to use every tool at their disposal to prepare for the Omicron variant of Covid-19, which was recently deemed a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization.
Washington Examiner
Two omicron COVID-19 cases reported in Canada (opens Washington Examiner)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Washington Examiner's feed description
The new omicron variant of COVID-19 is now on the doorstep of the United States.
Wfmy News 2
President Biden: Omicron variant cause for concern, not cause for panic (opens Wfmy News 2)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Wfmy News 2's feed description
Top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday morning there were still no cases of the variant identified in the U.S. but that it was "inevitable."
Al Jazeera
Infographic: How Omicron compares with other COVID variants (opens Al Jazeera)
Published Nov 28, 2021
Al Jazeera's feed description
WHO says preliminary evidence indicates an ‘increased risk of reinfection with Omicron’ but information is limited.

Showing the first 25 of 155 headlines. ·

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.