What We Know About the Omicron Variant

<p>The story of the Omicron variant began a week ago, when researchers in southern Africa detected a version of the coronavirus that carried 50 mutations. </p><p>When scientists look at coronavirus mutations, they worry about three things: Is the new variant more contagious? Is it going to cause people to get sicker? And how will the vaccines work against it? </p><p>We explore when we will get the answers to these three questions, and look at the discovery of the variant and the international response to it. </p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/apoorva-mandavilli?smid=pc-thedaily">Apoorva Mandavilli</a>, a reporter covering science and global health for The New York Times.</p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily">Sign up here</a> to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline">subscribe to our newsletter</a>. </p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>South African scientists have said that while they need more data to be sure,<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/29/world/africa/south-africa-omicron-covid.html?smid=pc-thedaily"> existing treatments and precautions seem to be effective</a> against the Omicron variant.</li><li>Mutations can work together to make a virus more fearsome, but they can also cancel one another out. This phenomenon, called epistasis, is<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/29/health/omicron-covid-mutation-epistasis.html?smid=pc-thedaily"> why scientists are reluctant to speculate on Omicron</a>.</li><li>Almost two years into the pandemic,<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/29/world/africa/coronavirus-omicron-variant-response.html?smid=pc-thedaily"> finger-pointing, lack of coordination, sparse information and fear</a> are once again influencing policy.</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily