Plays a role in inhibiting the host innate immune response by targeting the mitochondrial-associated innate immune response. Acts by binding to host TOMM70, inhibiting its binding to HSP90AB1 thereby disrupting the interferon activation pathway. Homodimer (Ref.5). Interacts with host TOMM70 (PubMed:33060197, PubMed:32728199, PubMed:34502139, PubMed:33990585); the interaction occurs only with monomer (PubMed:33990585). Variant Omicron/BA.1 and BA.2 belong to a lineage first isolated in South Africa (November 2021). The open reading frame (ORF) encoding for this protein overlaps with the N ORF. Belongs to the coronavirus group 2 protein 9b family.