Omicron, a new COVID-19 variant, has been detected in a growing number of countries and regions worldwide, prompting governments to tighten their restrictions and impose new travel bans.
The first case of the Omicron variant was detected in South Africa and reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Nov. 24.
A number of countries have already introduced entry bans on travelers from South Africa.
While the variant has sparked concerns among the public, the WHO said it is not yet clear whether Omicron is more transmissible, or causes more severe disease compared to other variants.
However, concerns over its impact on the efficacy of existing vaccines and treatments have been growing.
A special session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) kicked off in Geneva on Monday, where the participants aim to negotiate a new "pandemic treaty."
"COVID-19 has exposed and exacerbated fundamental weaknesses in the global architecture for pandemic preparedness and response. The best way we can address them is with a legally binding agreement between nations, an accord forged from the recognition that we have no future but a common future," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the opening of the special session.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service
