JOHANNESBURG - It's been more than five years since Covid-19 was declared a pandemic.
And, as we head into the cold winter months, a new variant is causing concern in China, where it's led to an increase in hospitalisations.
The World Health Organisation has designated this new strain, NB.1.8.1, as a 'variant under monitoring'.
Is there cause for concern?
Prof Tulio de Oliveira, director at the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, said this variant is part of the omicron family.
"It is identified as a variant, and we are monitoring this is the lowest level we have on the WHO," he said.
"It is just a lineage of omicron that seems to be causing infections."