Coronavirus Omicron variant still not reported in Georgia

The Omicron variant of coronavirus has not been confirmed in Georgia so far, Deputy Health Minister Tamar Gabunia stated earlier today. 

She said that the new strain of coronavirus which was detected in South Africa in November  and was classified as a ‘variant of concern’ by the World Health Organization (WHO), is likely to spread in Georgia as ‘risks are high.’ 

According to most recent reports Omicron is highly contiguous. However, its symptoms are milder compared to the currently dominant Delta variant. 

The WHO says that Omicron has an ‘unprecedented number of spike mutations’, which is concerning due to the potential impact on the trajectory of the pandemic.

Georgia is expected to receive special PCR tests to detect the new variant in the near future. 

However, Omicron is fully identified by sequencing the organism’s genetic material which Georgia is able to do at the US-built Lugar Lab in Tbilisi.