The director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr Anthony Fauci, said it was difficult to know at the moment whether the new Omicron coronavirus variant causes severe Covid-19 illness in infected patients. Speaking at a White House briefing on November 30, 2021, Fauci said preliminary information from South Africa indicated it did not lead to unusual symptoms. But there is growing worldwide concern about the new strain first identified in South Africa on November 24, 2021. Omicron has since spread to at least 19 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America.
Video source: AP