The Greek naming system for COVID variants of interest and concern was introduced by the WHO on May 31, 2021. The idea was to ensure that variants had easy-to-say and remember labels.

In doing so, the WHO decided to skip over two letters in the Greek alphabet: nu and xi. The reasons for doing this remained a bit of a mystery until the WHO itself clarified the issue on Saturday.

According to the Greek alphabet, the World Health Organization was expected to name the latest Covid-19 variant “Nu” or “Xi.” But both names were seen as problematic.

The 15th letter of the Greek alphabet had been a fairly innocuous entity for 2,500 years. But in just two weeks, it became notorious. Omicron moved beyond classical philosophy texts, beyond the ...

The WHO has followed the Greek alphabet when labeling certain variants of the coronavirus. But the newest variant is named omicron, skipping two letters.

Thanks to many 3- and 4-letter names, the Greek alphabet is rife with puzzle possibilities.

The WHO has followed the Greek alphabet when labeling certain variants of the coronavirus. But the newest variant is named omicron, skipping two letters.

The WHO has followed the Greek alphabet when labeling certain variants of the coronavirus. But the newest variant is named omicron, skipping two letters.

The WHO has followed the Greek alphabet when labeling certain variants of the coronavirus. But the newest variant is named omicron, skipping two letters.

The WHO has followed the Greek alphabet when labeling certain variants of the coronavirus. But the newest variant is named omicron, skipping two letters.

The WHO has followed the Greek alphabet when labeling certain variants of the coronavirus. But the newest variant is named omicron, skipping two letters.

The WHO has followed the Greek alphabet when labeling certain variants of the coronavirus. But the newest variant is named omicron, skipping two letters.