The new Omicron strain

[Bobby]

Notice that Xi was skipped in the Greek alphabet to name the new variant Omicron?
We wouldn't want to offend President Xi.

[Bobby]

https://www.9news.com.au/national/omicr ... 0d8749b5a2

No cases of Omicron found in Australia after borders closed to countries with the strain

By Serena Seyfort
11:21am Nov 28, 2021

None of the cases of COVID-19 in Australia that have come from South Africa have been found to have the new Omicron variant, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has confirmed.
Mr Hunt said federal health authorities were examining research on the strain daily after Australia's borders were yesterday closed to any non-Australian citizens who have been in nine African countries where the strain is present.
Despite global concerns about Omicron, Mr Hunt said there had been no evidence the strain was more dangerous than other strains of coronavirus.

[Bobby]

https://www.smh.com.au/national/coronav ... 59crq.html


Australia COVID LIVE updates:

Urgent testing underway for Omicron variant as two Sydney arrivals
from South Africa test positive to COVID-19

[Black Orchid]

I see they skipped Xi

[Bobby]

I see they skipped Xi

https://www.thedailybeast.com/world-hea ... id-variant


WHO: Here’s Why We Skipped Some Letters When Naming Omicron Variant

THE ALPHA-BETA-GAMMAS
Corbin Bolies

Breaking News Intern
Updated Nov. 27, 2021 3:22PM ET /
Published Nov. 27, 2021 3:02PM ET
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty

After boggling some minds with its naming system for COVID variants, the World Health Organization made some clarifications on Saturday. In a statement, the agency explained why it skipped over the Greek letters “Nu” and “Xi” when naming the new, highly transmissible Omicron variant. It said “Nu” was skipped because of its semblance to “new,” while “Xi” was passed over because of its use as a common surname around the world. It said it had rules preventing the use of variant names that could cause “offense to any cultural, social, national, regional, professional, or ethnic groups”—though it did not specifically address speculation about the WHO’s supposed deference to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The organization labeled the Omicron variant a “variant of concern” on Friday.

[Black Orchid]

Of course they'd say that.

[Super Nova]

This is going to go on forever.

We need to all get vaccinated. Continue research and get back on with our lives.

Some will die. We don't lockdown for the flu, we accept he risk.

[Black Orchid]

They should ALL be called Xi.

Xi-1, Xi-2, Xi-3, Xi-4, Xi-5 etc etc etc in honour of Pooh Bear.

[sprintcyclist]

This is going to go on forever.

We need to all get vaccinated. Continue research and get back on with our lives.

Some will die. We don't lockdown for the flu, we accept the risk.

I agree

[Bobby]

They should ALL be called Xi.

Xi-1, Xi-2, Xi-3, Xi-4, Xi-5 etc etc etc in honour of Pooh Bear.

All the information has been hidden at Wuhan -
no one will ever know what happened.
What are the Chinese hiding?