Almost every week after well being consultants in South Africa alerted the world to a brand new, doubtlessly harmful model of the novel coronavirus, India has prolonged nationwide COVID-19 containment measures until December 31. Health officers have mentioned the model was a number of days earlier in Europe. Already recognized, and greater than 20 nations have reported instances of the Omicron kind.
As circumstances more and more unfold, listed below are as we speak’s high 5 Omicron-related developments from around the globe.
1. US tightens journey guidelines
The United States requires all air vacationers coming into the nation to indicate a adverse COVID-19 check inside a day of departure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mentioned late Tuesday. Currently, vaccinated worldwide vacationers can submit a adverse end result obtained inside three days from their place of departure. The new one-day testing requirement will apply to US residents in addition to overseas nationals.
2. Saudi, Brazil Report First Omicron Cases
Saudi Arabia confirmed its first case of the Omicron Covid-19 variant coming from the North African nation, the state information company mentioned on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Brazil’s well being regulator Anvisa mentioned two Brazilians had examined optimistic for the variant, the primary case reported in Latin America. A traveler arriving in So Paulo from South Africa and his spouse, who had not traveled, each examined optimistic for the brand new variant, the regulatory physique mentioned, amid considerations concerning the unfold of world omicrons earlier than the current journey ban got here into pressure. added to
3. Fiji Welcomes Tourists Despite Omicron Danger
Fiji welcomed its first vacationers in additional than 600 days on Wednesday, after shifting ahead with reopening plans regardless of the menace posed by the Omicron model. Brent Hill, chief govt of Tourism Fiji, mentioned 75,000 vacationers have booked journeys to the nation over the subsequent few months. Fiji was spared the worst of the virus till April, when the Delta variant outbreak was taking maintain. The outbreak killed about 700 individuals, however now there are about 5 new infections on daily basis.
4. WHO modifications journey advisory for kind omicron
The World Health Organization is altering its journey advisory relating to the Omicron model simply hours after it was launched. The UN well being company initially mentioned that people who find themselves unwell or prone to creating extreme COVID-19 illness and dying are suggested to postpone journey. This advice applies to people who find themselves not less than 60 years outdated and who’ve co-morbidities, together with most cancers, coronary heart illness and diabetes.
But the WHO later revised that assertion, saying that individuals who haven’t been absolutely vaccinated or who do not need proof of prior an infection and who’re at excessive threat, ought to postpone journey to areas with “community transmission”. the place it’s spreading extra extensively. ,
5. Deteriorating state of affairs in France, Portugal
Several European nations, notably France and Portugal, have been witnessing a rise in COVID-19 infections in current instances. French Health Minister Olivier Veran mentioned 47,000 new infections had been confirmed previously 24 hours, in line with Euro News, a France-based information community. It mentioned the variety of every day new instances had risen to greater than 30,000 for every week, down from 23,000 every week in the past and 15,000 two weeks in the past.
In Portugal, a pediatric unit was closed after a hospital worker examined optimistic for the Omicron variant. A report by Euro News mentioned the employee was involved with members of a Portuguese soccer membership the place there have been not less than 13 instances of the brand new variant. The nation is implementing a brand new set of restrictions on accessing public providers, together with vaccine certificates and necessary face masks.
(With inputs from Reuters and The Associated Press)
,
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
