What South Africa and omicron tell us about inequality
There is still much to learn about omicron, but one thing is as clear as a vial of vaccine. Stark inequality, both within nations and between them, is good for pathogens.
Talk about shooting the messenger. Last week, South African scientists unearthed a new coronavirus variant, since named omicron, and promptly reported it.
The new variant could have come from anywhere. Yet the reward for the scientists’ skill, speed and honesty has been a crippling travel ban that will plunge South Africa’s tourist-dependent economy into further misery.
