This is the Guardian. Six days ago,

ago scientists in South Africa detected a new variant of COVID.

The variant named Omicron poses an increased reinfection risk.

There are a number of things that we already know about Omicron.

As a result of the work our scientists have been doing.

Immediately concerns were raised about the number and type of mutations it has

and the apparent speed at which it spreads.

It does appear that Omicron spreads very rapidly

and can be spread between people who are double vaccinated.

Over the weekend it hit headline. between people who are double vaccinated.

Over the weekend, it hit headlines as it began to turn up in countries around the world.

There is one case of this new variant confirmed here in Israel.

It was found in a trial.

Canada's first known cases of the Omicron variant.

I was informed that they have detected two cases of this new variant omicron in the United Kingdom.

There's still very little known about the variant, but what we have seen is worrying

enough to close borders, reinstate public health measures like

quarantines and mask wearing and speed up national vaccination programs.

Over the next few weeks we were already planning to do 6 million booster jabs in England alone.

But against this backdrop of this new variant, we want to go further and faster.

So what do we know about Omicron and what could it mean for the weeks and months ahead

including dare I say it, Christmas.

...