MOVING TO FRONT FROM THIS MORNING--UPDATED
UPDATE: The W.H.O. has named the new variant Omicron, rather than Nu, as initial reports had suggested.
ANOTHER UPDATE: From the European analogue of the CDC (my bolded emphases):
The variant is characterised by 30 changes, three small deletions and one small insertion in the spike protein, of these, 15 are in the receptor binding domain. This variant was first detected in samples collected on 11 November 2021 in Botswana and on 14 November 2021 in South Africa. As of 26 November 2021, travel-related cases have also been detected in Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel. The Omicron variant is the most divergent variant that has been detected in significant numbers during the pandemic so far, which raises concerns that it may be associated with increased transmissibility, significant reduction in vaccine effectiveness and increased risk for reinfections. As of 26 November 2021, ECDC has classified this variant as a variant of concern (VOC) due to concerns regarding immune escape and potentially increased transmissibility compared to the Delta variant.
ANOTHER (5 PM CST): A typically informative analysis from Statnews. Do read this.
