[imagesource: Pexels]

The National Health Department has confirmed that they are in discussion with scientists to gather more information on the new, and highly transmissible XBB.1.5 COVID-19 variant.

Nicknamed ‘Kraken’, the new variant has been detected in South Africa, and despite the ominous name, the variant is similar to Omicron, albeit more transmittable.

Head of the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (Krisp), Tulio de Oliveira, has however assured the public that this new strain will not cause much disruption to South Africa due to our successful vaccination drives and the country having reached a high level of immunity, per EWN:

“This name ‘Kraken’ was just used by some scientists without any approval. We are talking about omicron – it’s still Omicron, it’s just slightly more transmissible. It’s not a new variant of concern, it’s not any kind of virus that will cause havoc in the world.”

The National Health Department has indicated that they would make a statement available to the public in due course.

The health department is meeting with scientists to gather more information about the highly transmissible XBB.1.5 COVID-19 variant. Its tweeted that official communication will be made soon. #DStv403 #eNCA pic.twitter.com/q9H2tvh11H

— eNCA (@eNCA) January 7, 2023

Per ENCA the department has urged the country to vaccinate, get boosters, wear masks, keep social distance, avoid overcrowded places and wash hands regularly in the meantime.

Same shit, different strain.

[sources:ewn&enca]