INTERNATIONAL: The World Health Organization (WHO) has allocated $12 million worth of emergency funds to support southern Africa countries in responding to the new Omicron COVID-19 variant in the next three months. This was announced by WHO Regional Emergency Director for Africa Abdou Salam Gueye.

The UN agency has also dispatched experts to facilitate genomic sequencing in Botswana, Mozambique, and Namibia, as well as to assist with surveillance and contact tracing in South Africa's Gauteng Province. Experts will also provide technical assistance to Botswana to promote the production and distribution of medical oxygen.

Gueye further says that the research on the mutant strain is underway to understand whether it is more infectious to cause serious disease. He also adds, researchers will study how the variant will affect the effectiveness of the vaccines.