The Omicron variant of the coronavirus should technically be called the 'Nu' variant, as it is the next letter in the Greek alphabet after the previously named variant, 'Mu.'
one of concern after it was discovered in South Africa earlier in November.
"'Nu' is too easily confounded with 'new,'" Tarik Jasarevic, a WHO spokesman told the Times on Saturday. "And 'Xi' was not used because it is a common last name."He told the outlet that the naming process intends to avoid "causing offense to any cultural, social, national, regional, professional or ethnic groups.", officials have stressed that little about the variant is known.
Previously named variants of the coronavirus included the Greek letters "Alpha," "Beta," and "Gamma." Variants "Lamda," "Delta," and "Mu" were also named and considered variants of interest by the agency, as the Times reported. "Xi" and "Nu" were the only letters that have so far been skipped, he said.
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