Officials have said it may take weeks to determine how infectious and dangerous the new coronavirus strain is

Top South African scientist says reinfections on the rise, but initial research shows being immunized protects carriers of new variant from severe illness or death

UN health agency says Omicron has been detected in two dozen countries, warns travel bans making it hard to share samples of mutated coronavirus strain

Rich nations like France and Japan have given at least one dose to over 75 percent of their populations; in South Africa, only a quarter of population has been vaccinated.

Citing preliminary info, UN health agency says Omicron could fuel outbreaks with 'severe consequences,' and stresses there are 'considerable uncertainties' about the mutated strain

At virtual global summit, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the emergence of the new COVID variant shows how 'perilous and precarious our situation is'

Global health organization says some mutations 'may be associated with immune escape potential and higher transmissibility,' but notes uncertainties remain

President Cyril Ramaphosa says blacklisting his nation is 'scientifically unjustified'; UN health director in Africa says it may only slightly reduce the spread of COVID

Pharmaceutical company says it is also examining using a higher dose of its existing vaccine against new strain

Firm that developed vaccine with Pfizer says it will have more data available next month, but has plans in motion to be able to mass-manufacture adapted inoculation