If you haven’t heard already, a new Covid-19 variant has been discovered by scientists in South Africa and it has been labelled as a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization.

According to a report in The Star quoting Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, the COVID-19 Omicron variant is probably more transmissible than the Delta variant, but what is not yet known is how infectious it is.

We have to take appropriate measures to stay safe

We know Omicron is probably more transmissible than Delta but we don’t yet know it’s virulence. What we can do in the meantime is step up public health interventions (masks, distancing, hygiene), improve indoor air flow, keep our aged safe & take a booster when offered.

— Khairy Jamaluddin ??? (@Khairykj) November 30, 2021

As such, Khairy has urged the public to take precautions against getting infected and to get a Covid-19 vaccine booster shot.

"What we can do in the meantime is step up public health interventions (masks, distancing, hygiene), improve indoor air flow, keep our aged safe and take a booster when offered," he said in a tweet as quoted in the report.

Date compiled by CNN showed that at least 17 countries and territories have confirmed Omicron variant cases.

The government is monitoring the situation and paused Malaysia's transition to endemicity. This includes tightening border controls.

VOC Omicron is being closely monitored. #COVID19 Ministerial Quartet has decided for immediate actions to be taken – pausing our transition to endemicity; and imposing stricter border controls. This is in line with #ReopeningSafely to protect Malaysians and our efforts thus far. pic.twitter.com/R8hCrU2bNA

— Hishammuddin Hussein ?? (@HishammuddinH2O) November 30, 2021

MAIN IMAGE CREDIT: The Star