No cases of new Covid-19 variant detected in South Africa have been identified in the United States to date, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) designated the B.1.1.529 variant, dubbed Omicron, as being “of concern,” the fifth variant to be classified as such.

“We expect Omicron to be identified quickly, if it emerges in the US,” CDC said in a statement.