The Omicron coronavirus variant was detected in more countries on Sunday, as new cases were identified in the Netherlands, Denmark and Australia. Countries are imposing travel restrictions in order to curb the spread. Dutch authorities found thirteen cases of the variant among the passengers on the two flights that arrived in Amsterdam from South Africa on Friday. 

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that it was still not known if the new variant is more transmissible compared to the other variants, or if it leads to more severe disease. The agency stated that according to preliminary data, there are increasing rates of hospitalization in South Africa; however, this could be attributed to an overall increase in the number of people getting infected. It added that it will take several days to weeks to understand the actual level of severity of the variant… (Reuters, November 28, 2021)