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World Health Organization names concerning new COVID-19 variant 'omicron'

A registered nurse stirs a nasal swab in testing solution after administering a COVID-19 test at Sameday Testing on July 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
A registered nurse stirs a nasal swab in testing solution after administering a COVID-19 test at Sameday Testing on July 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

The COVID-19 variant discovered earlier this week in South Africa, which is spurring concern among public health agencies, governments and markets alike, now has a name.

It's the "omicron" variant, according to the World Health Organization, which classified it a variant of concern on Friday.


"This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning," the WHO wrote in a press release on Friday. "Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other (variants of concern)."

Omicron joins the alpha, beta, gamma and highly contagious delta variants as concerning ones under the WHO's classification.