Doctor Who Raised Alarm about New COVID Variant Pumps Brakes on Hysteria, Says Symptoms 'Unusual, but Mild'

The South African doctor who first alerted the scientific community to a new SARS-CoV-2 — B.1.1.529, which the World Health Organization has dubbed “Omicron” — has described symptoms of the variant as “unusual, but mild.”

While most Americans gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving this week, hysteria over the new COVID-19 variant spread like wildfire.

The WHO is warning that omicron contains several genetic mutations on the virus’ spike protein, worrying scientists about the variant’s ability to bypass infection-blocking antibodies, and specifically, vaccines.

President Joe Biden responded to the emergence of the variant by enacting a travel ban on eight African nations. The European Union quickly followed suit. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) even enacted a state of emergency in the Empire State to respond to the omicron variant — despite the U.S. not having confirmed a single case of the new variant.