A new variant of the Coronavirus has been detected. This strain was named the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529). This strain was first identified on November 25th, 2021 in South Africa, but since then 20 other countries reported cases of the variant. On November 30th, 2021 the United States classified the Omicron strain as a variant of concern. The first confirmed case of Omicron in the United States was in California, and the individual who caught it recently came back to the states after traveling in South Africa. As of now, there is no firm evidence if the Omicron strain is more dangerous than the Delta variant. Not much is currently known about the strain due to the recency of discovery.
