The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the new Corona variant B.1.1.529 as "worrying".

The UN agency announced on Friday after consultations with experts.

According to the WHO definition, this classification is a signal that a variant is more contagious or leads to more severe disease courses.

In addition, with "worrying variants" there is a risk that conventional vaccinations, medication or corona measures will be less effective.

This variant, now called Omicron, has a large number of mutations, some of which are worrying, it said.

Preliminary indications indicated an increased risk of reinfection with this variant compared to other worrying variants, which also include the currently predominant delta variant.

According to the WHO, B.1.1.529 was discovered in South Africa using genetic analysis from November 9th.

Overall, the variant has so far been genetically detected less than 100 times.

It has many mutations that scientists believe could potentially lead to easier transmission.

However, according to the WHO, it will be weeks before it becomes clear what the exact effects of the mutations are.

Exact effects of the mutations are still unclear

Shortly before the WHO decision, the EU states had banned all entries from southern Africa for the time being.

Passengers who are still en route have to go into quarantine.

The states decided on Friday afternoon in an emergency meeting, as announced by the Slovenian Council Presidency.

The ban hits seven countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Mozambique.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had urged appropriate steps.

Take the new mutant B.1.1.529 "very seriously," she said after talking to scientists and vaccine manufacturers.

Protective measures must be taken to gain “time for further vaccinations and refreshments” and to adapt the vaccines.

Switzerland also banned flights from the region of southern Africa for an indefinite period.

There was talk of a very worrying development in the European Commission.

Initial analyzes indicated that the available vaccines against the new, heavily modified mutant were not effective.

Although it is unlikely to be more deadly than the delta variant, everything must now be done to contain the spread and reduce further stress on the health system.

In Germany, the regulation will come into force next night, airlines will then only be allowed to transport German citizens to Germany, said the acting Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn on Friday afternoon.

The passengers of a Lufthansa plane arriving in Munich from Cape Town in South Africa on Friday evening all have to be in a 14-day quarantine. In addition, they would have to undergo a PCR test immediately after the landing planned for 7.45 p.m. The quarantine will take effect regardless of the outcome of the test and the passengers' vaccination status, said the Bavarian Ministry of Health. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the new Corona variant has not yet been detected in Germany.

The reaction of many European countries to the newly discovered variant of the coronavirus is "unjustified" in the opinion of the South African Minister of Health.

So far it is unclear whether variant B.1.1.529 is more contagious than other variants, said Joe Phaahla on Friday evening during a virtual press conference.

Measures such as entry bans would completely violate existing norms and standards of the World Health Organization (WHO), said Phaahla.

With the announcements on Thursday, they only wanted to share the findings of South African scientists as quickly as possible.

It is also unclear whether corona vaccines could be less effective against the newly discovered virus variant.