As news has broken in recent days about the new Covid variant omicron, conspiracy theorists have gone into overdrive - bizarrely claiming there’s a hidden message after finding a not-so-festive anagram within the variant’s name.
Omicron is now thought to be the most transmissible variant of late and has been classed as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
As a result of the variant, England has now reinstated its mask-wearing policy on Tuesday, 30th November, so facemasks should now be worn in public spaces such as on transport, at the hairdressers, banks and post offices.
Just in time, as the festive season gets underway, conspiracy theorists have found the anagram “No Crimbo” in the variant name (as it’s British slang for Christmas, seems the message is just for us Brits?).
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Though in order for this anagram to work the full name of the variant had to be used to come to this conclusion: omicron (B.1.1.5.29) - in order to squeeze the all-important “B” in to spell out “Crimbo.”
Of course, they’ve now jumped to the conclusion that this is a clear message indicating there will be no Christmas this year.
Perhaps, there is a villainous anagram department at the World Health Organisation (WHO) where each Greek letter of the alphabet is scoped out for the possible subliminal messages it can send out via the jumbled letters, and that people actually use the word Crimbo on purpose...
As people discussed this conspiracy on Twitter, many pointed out the insanity of using word puzzles to come to such conclusions.
Another anagram conspiracy theorists ironically found was “moronic” meaning foolish or stupid - though others also pointed out another hilarious anagram they missed: “micro nob.”
(Surprisingly, there are no conspiracy theories surrounding that particular anagram).
Apparently NO CRIMBO is trending because it's an anagram of Omicron B. Most people find this mildly amusing, but there are a few pillocks going full tinfoil hat about it. Good job it's also an anagram of B MORONIC... 😏 🤣 pic.twitter.com/rayKqxBRxf
— Ducky (@DuckedyDooDah) November 29, 2021
I don’t know if anyone has realised it yet, but ‘Omicron B’ is an anagram of ‘Micro Nob’.
— No Context Brits (@NoContextBrits) November 30, 2021
Yesterday, they were raging that Omicron is an anagram of "Moronic". Today, it's that Omicron B is an anagram of "No Crimbo."
— Tony - Bunny-Hugger (@IsntTony105) November 29, 2021
Aside from the inanity of referring to Christmas by that hideous *abbreviation*, do all *No Compliers* have a mental age of 7...?🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/dAhg1kXqpH
Anyone who thinks that Omicron B being an anagram of No Crimbo is a conspiracy needs to splash some cold water over their face.
— James Melville (@JamesMelville) November 29, 2021
I am lollllllingggg at the anti vaxx idiots thinking they've 'spotted something' because 'Omicron B' = No Crimbo. Like you literally had to add an entire new letter, AND use a phrase for Christmas that makes people gag.
— Jack Duncan 🔻 (@JackDunc1) November 30, 2021
Is it a coincidence that OMICRON B is a an anagram for Micro Nob? The government are quite clearly gearing up to create a new generation of people with micro penises, wake up people 🙄
— Paddy (@Padz_w) November 30, 2021
There are GENUINELY people claiming Omicron B is a conspiracy because it is an anagram of 'No Crimbo'. I'm going back to bed pic.twitter.com/Vaqq8h9WFy
— Matt Rose (@mattrose_11) November 30, 2021
Omicron B is an anagram of Micro Nob. Makes you think.
— Adz (@AdzAgain) November 30, 2021
Conspiracists declaring Omicron B as a top secret anagram for ‘no Chrimbo’ must be proof that we aren’t the final stage of human evolution, surely there’s better ahead 😭
— matt horwood (@matthewhorwood) November 30, 2021
I love to be part of a shadowy secret elite and pick the name of OMICRON B by scrambling the letters of NO CRIMBO. I am clever and dangerous enough to invent new variants but goofy enough to leave little anagram clues in the names
— Helena (@Helenarth) November 29, 2021
It's surely no coincidence that Omicron B is an anagram of "I'm Boco rn" 🚆 pic.twitter.com/4RgcVltWQ0
— Stoo G (@FormulaStoo) November 30, 2021
In conclusion, maybe those conspiracy theorists should stick Countdown on their telly if they want to search for words.
Meanwhile, WHO has explained why the letters Nu and Xi were passed when choosing the name for the new variant and told Reuters that “‘Nu’ is too easily confounded with ‘new,’ and ‘Xi’ was not used because it is a common last name.”
“WHO best practices for naming disease suggest avoiding ‘causing offence to any cultural, social, national, regional, professional or ethnic groups,” they added.
Though anagram conspiracies weren’t the only things up for debate when concerning the omicron variant, many were confused as to how the Greek letter is supposed to be pronounced.
