Chris Whitty COVID-19 press conference about Omicron

The video discusses the emergence of a new risk and the progress of the booster program, highlighting the increasing number of people receiving additional protection. It then shifts focus to the OMIKRON variant, detailing its spread from southern Africa to various countries, including the UK. The UK has reported two linked cases and is conducting contact tracing. The video emphasizes concerns about the virus's rapid spread, particularly in South Africa's Gauteng area, where it constitutes a significant portion of cases.

What is the significance of the spread of the new variant as discussed in the text?

How does the text describe the spread of the OMIKRON variant in the Gauteng area of South Africa?