Although China was one of the first box office territories to recover in the early days of the pandemic, it slipped back again in 2022 as the country battled the Omicron variant of Covid.

Source: https://deadline.com/2023/05/cannes-china-chinese-buyers-sellers-indie-hollywood-releases-1235363028/

As scientists look at the emergence of BA.2.86 Covid variant as a reminiscence of Omicron virus, they are in a huddle to find out if the new highly-mutated coronavirus variant will be a global concern or not.

Source: https://www.canindia.com/new-highly-mutated-covid-variant-has-put-researchers-on-high-alert-4/

As the Omicron variant surges, it’s wrecking the school-year routine, sometimes for weeks at a time.

Source: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-08-20/hurricane-hilary-movies-tv-shows-recommendations

At least on that end it appears as if the evolution of Covid variants has become steadier during the pandemic's third year, with more gradual changes compared to the leaps we saw with Alpha, Delta and Omicron.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11815985/What-experts-Governments-SAGE-panel-hink-pandemic-be.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

China is posting the steepest drop in Covid deaths among more than 20 places hit hardest by Omicron, reviving questions about its virus data and the true impact of the reopening wave as Beijing works to move on from the pandemic.

Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/02/15/chinas-sharp-drop-in-coviddeaths-revives-data-concerns/

Entering into December, Omicron outbreaks across the country severely disrupted manufacturing, logistics and offline store operations,” it said.

Source: https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/23/01/30475145/cathie-wood-trims-2m-stake-in-chinese-electric-scooter-maker-keeps-loading-up-on-tesla-s

Experts have highlighted that this strain, similar to the Omicron variant, possesses the ability to more easily evade immunity, raising concerns among health authorities and communities alike.

Source: https://www.baltimoregaylife.com/covid-cases-surge-in-baltimore-experts-attribute-spike-to-new-variant/

He encouraged Nova Scotians to get vaccinated against both the flu and against the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/chief-medical-officer-update-fall-vaccine-rollout-1.6984853?cmp=rss

“Hopefully, it continues to be diluted and not as severe as that first round or the Omicron round was.

Source: https://www.lagrangenews.com/2023/09/20/covid-cases-on-the-uptick-in-lagrange/

“However, currently available evidence for XBB.1.9.1 does not suggest any differences in disease severity and/or clinical manifestations compared to the original Omicron variant,” it added.

Source: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1756167/ph-logs-cases-of-omicron-xbb-1-9-1-covid-19-subvariant

However, it has tens of more mutations compared to Omicron.

Source: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/pirola-new-covid-variant-uk-symptoms-b1102699.html

“If you think about how the original Omicron spread in South Africa, nobody had heard about it in November 2021.

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/covid-xbb-variant-who-china-b2259949.html

“In the months leading up to March 2022, Omicron had been spiking in LA and the U.S. in general,” SCALE Conference Chair Ilan Rabinovich recalled.

Source: https://www.dailybreeze.com/2023/03/08/scale-linux-and-free-software-convention-returns-to-pasadena-for-first-time-since-covid-lockdown/

It found those patients were about 55 per cent less likely to die within 30 days than those hospitalised with Omicron, as observed over Israel’s 2021-22 flu season.

Source: https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/covid-19-may-kill-1000-kiwis-2023-michael-baker

It is thought by some epidemiologists that this is the route that the Omicron variant of Covid-19 took, mutation taking place in infected rats which then transmitted an adapted virus back to humans.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/13/simon-schama-foreign-bodies-book-extract-broken-relationship-humans-animals

Like its parent XBB, Kraken has strong immune evasive properties compared with previous Omicron sub-lineages, according to scientists.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/14/what-is-the-new-covid-variant-xbb-1-5

"Like other studies on non-Indigenous cohorts, antibody responses against the COVID variants Delta and Omicron were lower compared to the ancestral strain, but were substantially increased following the booster vaccine dose," she said.

Source: https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/health/study-spotlights-vaccine-benefit-for-indigenous-people-c-10811265

Meanwhile, China’s CanSino Biologics Inc. has entered the “test production phase” for its COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccine, known as CS-2034, which targets new variants of the virus known as Omicron.

Source: https://www.voiceofsikkim.com/china-lifting-covid-19-restriction-after-3-years/

Ms Ardern's rivals took the lead in the polls at the same time her government introduced a fresh round of restrictions when the country was hit by the Omicron Covid variant.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11651299/Jacinda-Ardern-resigns-New-Zealands-Prime-Minister.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

Nationally, the new EG.5 variant, a spinoff of the XBB recombinant strain of the Omicron family, is driving most new infections, according to the latest estimates from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Source: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/metallica-postpones-concert-after-hetfield-catches-covid-186018