What happened: South African health authorities discovered a new and more transmissible Covid-19 variant. It has triggered a strong reaction around the world. It has led to a number of governments prohibiting tourists from various southern African countries. Details: The World Health Organization categorised the newly discovered coronavirus variation B.1.1.529 as a variety of concern. It is also called Omicron. It was discovered on Friday. The variant has been found in Botswana, Hong Kong, and Belgium, in addition to South Africa. It looks to be spreading quickly in regions of South Africa, and experts are concerned that the virus’s high number of mutations would make it more transmissible and immune-evasive. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the new type has a “high to extremely high” potential of spreading across Europe. What else: The Belgian authorities also said on Friday that one person who had recently come from overseas and had not been vaccinated had tested positive for the new type, marking the first instance in Europe.