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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Thomas Kingsley

Two strains of Omicron from South Africa are labelled ‘variants of concern’ by European health officials

PA

Two strains of Omicron have been labelled “variants of concern” that could dominate this summer, health officials warned.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said in a report that variants BA.4 and BA.5 could lead to soaring Covid cases across the continent risking additional pressures on hospitals and ICU departments in a matter of weeks and months. It added that countries should remain vigilant for signs that new variants are emerging.

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