“It is not clear yet whether the omicron is more transmissive - for example, it is more easily transmitted from person to person - compared to other options, including the delta option,” it said.
The organization stressed that the number of people with a positive test result for COVID-19 in South Africa has increased, but it is not yet clear whether this is due to the "omicron" or other factors.
On November 25, it became known that scientists have identified a new strain of coronavirus in Botswana, South Africa and Hong Kong, which could potentially become the most dangerous.
Later it was designated by the Greek letter "omicron".
Earlier it was reported that WHO does not yet have enough data to claim that the new omicron coronavirus strain is more infectious than other options.