A conference room at WHO headquarters, November 2021 A: “… Ok so we agree - ‘Nu’ creates all sorts of confusion so we will skip this letter” B: “Sounds good.

A conference room at WHO headquarters, November 2021 A: “… Ok so we agree - ‘Nu’ creates all sorts of confusion so we will skip this letter” B: “Sounds good. What do we have next in the alphabet - ‘Xi’. Oh.” Pause. Exchange of glances. A: “So that’s probably no good either right?” B: “Yeah looks like it” A: “Because it will be hard to pronounce?” B: “Right. Yup.” A: “Alright, ‘Omicron’ it is then.” B: “Done.”