The latest variant of the SARS-Cov-2 virus that has caused the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, named ‘Omicron’ and first detected recently in South Africa, is a new ‘Variant of Concern (VOC)’, the World Health Organization has declared. For the benefit of our readers, we reproduce here the text of the WHO’s Epidemiological Update put up on their website: Special Focus: Update on SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Interest and Variants of Concern The World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with national authorities, institutions and researchers, routinely assesses if variants of SARS-CoV-2 alter transmission or disease characteristics, or impact effectiveness of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics or Public Health and Social Measures (PHSM) applied by national authorities to control disease spread. Potential Variants of Concern (VOCs), Variants of Interest (VOIs) or Variants Under Monitoring (VUMs) are regularly assessed based on the risk posed to global public health. As evidence becomes available, classifications of variants will be revised to reflect the continuous evolution of circulating variants and their changing epidemiology. Criteria for variant classification, and the current lists of VOCs, VOIs and VUMs, are available on the WHO Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants website. National authorities may choose to designate other variants of local interest/concern and are encouraged to investigate and report on the impacts of these variants....