Timeline of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

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This is the timeline of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. Please note that this is a dynamic list, and that some events may only be understood in retrospect.

November[edit]

9 November[edit]

The first sample of what would eventually be named the Omicron variant by the World Health Organization (WHO) is collected in Botswana by South African scientists[1][2] under the aegis of Network for Genomic Surveillance South Africa (NGS-SA).

24 November[edit]

South Africa makes its first report of B.1.1.529 (as it is scientifically known) to WHO.[3]

25 November[edit]

The variation first comes to public notice[4] at a virtual press conference called by the Health Department of South Africa, Richard Lessells, an infectious-diseases physician at the University of KwaZulu-Natal,[5] remarked that “There’s a lot we don’t understand about this variant... The mutation profile gives us concern, but now we need to do the work to understand the significance of this variant and what it means for the response to the pandemic.” Professor Penny Moore, a virologist at the University of the Witwatersrand[6] said of the pace of this research that “We’re flying at warp speed[,]”[1] At this point there are 87 cases in five countries and an estimated 990 probable cases, with the most confirmed cases in South Africa at 77.[7]

26 November[edit]

On 26 November at an emergency meeting in Geneva, Switzerland WHO's Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution designated PANGO lineage B.1.1.529 a variant of concern (VOC) and gave it the designation Omicron (skipping Nu and Xi, the next letters in the Greek alphabet in keeping with its nomenclature protocol introduced for the Delta variant).[8][9][10] At this point there are 96 confirmed cases worldwide in South Africa, Botswana,[11] England,[12] Hong Kong,[13] Italy,[14] Israel,[15] and Belgium,[16] and 2 probable cases in Germany[17] and 1 in Czech Republic.[18][19]

27 November[edit]

The first two cases in the United Kingdom are announced. Additionally it was announced via Twitter that Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola were to be added to the UK's Red List as of Sunday, 4:00 a.m.,[20] genomic sequencing having been performed overnight, thus joining South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.[21] Furthermore Switzerland adds the UK to its "at risk" list along with other countries with cases.[22]

28 November[edit]

Two Danish returnees from South Africa test positive,[23] and another two people with recent travel in Nigeria test positive in Ottawa, Canada. A third case is detected in the UK, but the individual concerned, who had traveled from southern Africa, is no longer in the country, instigating high-level contract tracing.[24] Israel bars entry to all foreign nationals and puts travel to fifty African countries on its red list. Morocco closes its borders for two weeks.[25] [26] 13 cases of the variant are identified out of 61 COVID-19 cases on a KLM flight from South Africa to The Netherlands; the passengers involved, numbering approximately 600, were in mid-flight when EU sanctions were imposed.[27][28]

Two cases were detected in Sydney, Australia. Both people had landed in Sydney the previous day, and had traveled from southern Africa to Sydney via Doha, Qatar. The two people, who were fully vaccinated, entered isolation; 12 other travelers from southern Africa also entered quarantine for fourteen days, while about 260 other passengers and crew on the flight have been directed to isolate.[29]

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the Nation at 20:00 SAST.[30][31] Ramaphosa highlighted a few key points in his address.[32] Firstly he explained the arrival of the new Omicron Variant and stated that over the next 2 weeks, South African scientists will be working on understand and testing the effectiveness of vaccines against this new Variant.[33] He called for nations who closed borders to reopen then cited that the closure “is not informed by science, nor will it be effective in preventing the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant”.[34][35] Secondly, he called for the country to vaccinate.[36] Finally he announced the country would not go into lockdown, but introduced a minor curfew and a limit on gathering.[37] A further address is set to take place next week on 5 December 2021 to evaluate whether a lockdown is needed.[38][39]

29 November[edit]

Australia records its third case of the variant in a national repatriated from Johannesburg. He was undertaking mandatory isolation in the Howard Springs quarantine facility in the Northern Territory.[40] The first six cases are identified in Scotland (bringing the total in the UK to nine): four in the Lanarkshire area and two in Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.[41]

See also[edit]

Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Callaway, Ewen (25 November 2021). "Heavily mutated coronavirus variant puts scientists on alert". Nature. doi:10.1038/d41586-021-03552-w.
  2. ^ "Classification of Omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern". World Health Organization. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Classification of Omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern". www.who.int.
  4. ^ "New Covid variant: How worried should we be?". BBC News. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  5. ^ https://scholar.google.com.br/citations?hl=en&user=EarEBQkAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate,
  6. ^ "Penny Moore". The Conversation.
  7. ^ "87 Omicron COVID-19 Variant of Concern Cases Confirmed". www.precisionvaccinations.com.
  8. ^ "Fact Check-WHO skipped letters of Greek alphabet while naming COVID-19 variant Omicron". November 27, 2021 – via www.reuters.com.
  9. ^ World Health Organization (WHO) [@WHO] (26 November 2021). "The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution met today to review what is known about the #COVID19 variant B.1.1.529. They advised WHO that it should be designated a Variant of Concern. WHO has named it Omicron, in line with naming protocols t.co/bSbVas9yds t.co/Gev1zIt1Ek" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Parekh, Marcus; Platt, Poppie; Team, Global Health Security; Barnes, Joe (26 November 2021). "Coronavirus latest news: EU suspends all flights to southern Africa over omicron Covid variant fears". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  11. ^ "GISAID - hCov19 Variants". www.gisaid.org.
  12. ^ Javid, Sajid [@sajidjavid] (27 November 2021). "We have been made aware by @UKHSA of two UK cases of the Omicron variant. The two cases are linked and there is a connection with travel to southern Africa. These individuals are self-isolating with their households while further testing and contact tracing is underway" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ "CHP investigates six additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 and provides update on latest investigations on imported cases 12388 and 12404". www.info.gov.hk.
  14. ^ "Covid, un caso di variante Omicron in Campania: isolati tutti i contatti". la Repubblica. November 27, 2021.
  15. ^ "קורונה - משרד הבריאות". Telegram.
  16. ^ https://assets.uzleuven.be/files/2021-11/genomic_surveillance_update_211126.pdf
  17. ^ "2 Verdachtsfälle der neuen Omicron-Variante in Bayern bestätigt - Rückkehrer aus Südafrika sollen PCR-Test durchführen lassen, in Selbstquarantäne begeben und das Gesundheitsamt kontaktieren". November 27, 2021.
  18. ^ Babiš, Andrej [@AndrejBabis] (27 November 2021). "Dovolím si korigovat média. Paní, která byla testovaná na novou mutaci, NEBYLA v Egyptě, ale na pobytu v Namibii a letěla zpět do ČR přes JAR a Dubaj. Výsledek jejího testu očekáváme, je teď v izolaci a trasují se všechny kontakty" (Tweet) (in Czech). Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021 – via Twitter.
  19. ^ News, B. N. O. (November 26, 2021). "Tracking COVID-19 variant Omicron".
  20. ^ Goillandeau, Martin (27 November 2021). "2 cases of Omicron variant detected in the UK, health secretary says". CNN. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Boris Johnson tightens rules on travel and mask-wearing over Omicron concerns". the Guardian. November 27, 2021.
  22. ^ Swiss Embassy UK [@SwissEmbassyUK] (27 November 2021). "UPDATE - The UK has been added to Switzerland's risk country list. When boarding a plane and entering Switzerland, all persons travelling from the UK must present a negative COVID-19 test and quarantine for 10 days. Further information will follow on t.co/2BBu56C1mp t.co/x7i42O9vAU" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021 – via Twitter.
  23. ^ Ranjan, Rohit (28 November 2021). "Omicron: Two Denmark returnees from South Africa test positive for new COVID-19 variant". Republic World. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  24. ^ "Covid: Third case of Omicron variant detected in the UK". 28 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  25. ^ "Israel seals borders and Morocco bans flights as Omicron Covid fears rise". the Guardian. November 28, 2021.
  26. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/omicron-variant-canada-travellers-1.6265927[bare URL]
  27. ^ Feigl-Ding, Eric [@DrEricDing] (28 November 2021). "BREAKING—13 #Omicron variant cases now confirmed from 61 #COVID19 cases among ~600 passengers on two flights from South Africa to Amsterdam 🇳🇱(that took off and was mid-air when EU travel limits added). Dutch government warns there will likely be more. t.co/K6XSGcnn9h t.co/CjMFccNmwT" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 November 2021 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ "Covid: 13 test positive for Omicron after S Africa-Netherlands flights". November 28, 2021 – via www.bbc.com.
  29. ^ "Travellers test positive to Omicron COVID-19 strain after arriving in Sydney from southern Africa, NSW Health says". ABC News. 2021-11-28. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  30. ^ News, Eyewitness. "WATCH LIVE: President Ramaphosa to address the nation". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  31. ^ "WATCH: President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the nation | eNCA". www.enca.com. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  32. ^ "Family meeting: Ramaphosa to address nation at 8pm". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  33. ^ "Cyril Ramaphosa to address the nation on new Covid-19 variant". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  34. ^ Felix, Jason. "Closing the door to South Africa won't stop Omicron variant from spreading globally - Ramaphosa". News24. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  35. ^ "FULL ADDRESS | SA remains on alert level 1 lockdown". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  36. ^ Writer, Staff. "Ramaphosa to address South Africa on Sunday evening". Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  37. ^ "SA stays on lockdown level 1 - Read President Cyril Ramaphosa's full speech". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  38. ^ Illidge, Myles. "Family meeting tonight — What to expect from Ramaphosa's Omicron address". Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  39. ^ "[WATCH LIVE] Ramaphosa updates SA on Covid-19 measures (8 pm)". CapeTalk. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  40. ^ "COVID-positive repatriation flight arrival to the Northern Territory tests positive to Omicron variant". ABC News. 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  41. ^ "Omicron variant". gov.scot. Scottish Government. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
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