'Omicron' Covid variant: Did WHO skip two letters of Greek alphabet to avoid 'Xi'? 

When news of the new SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.529 first began to emerge, many expected that it would be named the 'Nu' variant, as 'Nu' was the next available letter in the Greek alphabet. However, the WHO skipped two letters and named it 'Omicron'.

When news of the new SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.529 first began to emerge, many expected that if it was flagged by the World Health Organisation, it would - quite fittingly - be called the 'Nu' variant. The WHO has been naming coronavirus variants after the Greek alphabet and the next available letter was 'Nu'. News of new Nu variant, but WHO is jumping the alphabet to call it Omicron, so they can avoid Xi. pic.twitter.com/UJ4xMwg52i

However, after the WHO's panel met on Friday, they designated the new strain found in South Africa and Botswana as a 'variant of concern' and announced that it would be called the 'Omicron' variant.