NEW YORK/TOKYO -- When the World Health Organization named a new COVID-19 strain first identified by South African scientists as a "variant of concern" in late November, Anthony Ramos knew he had little time to act.
Following the emergence in early November of the omicron COVID-19 variant, pictured here, countries in Asia have stepped up travel restrictions and quarantine requirements. © Getty Images
The Big Story
Omicron in Asia: A wake-up call for COVID policymaking
New variant shows futility of border closures and vaccine hoarding
Read Next
Latest on The Big Story
