Why did the WHO choose the name Omicron for the new variant?

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The World Health Organization Selected "Omicron" Following a Naming Convention and to Avoid Cultural Offense

The World Health Organization (WHO) introduced a new system for naming Covid-19 variants on May 31, 2021, utilizing letters from the Greek alphabet to simplify public reference and prevent the stigmatization of specific countries. The selection of "Omicron" as the designation for the latest variant of concern followed the established convention, after the organization had previously skipped the letters "nu" and "xi."
Greek Alphabet Naming System Implemented for Clarity and Inclusivity

On May 31, 2021, the WHO established a new nomenclature for Covid-19 variants, employing the Greek alphabet. This initiative aimed to provide the public with more accessible identifiers than the complex scientific designations, such as B.1.1.529. A significant objective of this system was to mitigate the discriminatory labeling of variants based on the geographical locations where they were first identified, thereby fostering a more inclusive global approach to tracking the virus.
Deliberate Omission of "Nu" and "Xi" Preceded "Omicron" Selection

The WHO's naming process involved a deliberate decision to bypass certain Greek letters. The 13th letter, "nu," was omitted because its pronunciation closely resembles the word "new." Similarly, the 14th letter, "xi," was also skipped. This decision was based on WHO's best practices for naming diseases, which stipulate the avoidance of terms that could cause offense to any cultural, social, national, regional, professional, or ethnic groups, as "xi" is a common Chinese surname. Consequently, the 15th letter, "Omicron," was chosen for the subsequent variant of concern.

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Why did the WHO choose the name Omicron for the new variant?

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