JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Worried scientists in South Africa are scrambling to combat the lightning spread across the country of the new and highly transmissible omicron COVID-19 variant as the world grapples with its emergence. In the space of two weeks, the omicron variant has sent South Africa from a period of low transmission to rapid growth of new confirmed cases. We all are terribly concerned about this virus,” Professor Willem Hanekom, director of the Africa Health Research Institute, told The Associated Press. “The scientific reaction from within South Africa is that we need to learn as much as soon as possible. As scientists try to learn more about omicron, the people of South Africa can take measures to protect themselves against it, said Hanekom.

Source: Huffington Post November 28, 2021 17:00 UTC