The discovery of Omicron coronavirus in South Africa has prompted a growing number of restrictions. However, the United States has yet to implement its own flight bans and is still waiting for Monday.
Omicron variants are said to have the potential to be more resistant against vaccines. Its existence has caused panic in stock markets, causing travel destinations to reassess their capabilities and a rise in fears about new lockdowns.
In response to concerns about the transmission of the new variant, the European Union, Australia, Brazil and Canada, Japan, Thailand, Thailand, Iran, Japan, Thailand, Thailand, and Brazil have already imposed restrictions on countries from southern Africa. Protective measures include bans on flights, quarantine rules, and the usual social distancing or mask requirements.
Even with all the precautions taken, there have been cases reported by travelers to Israel, Hong Kong and Belgium.
Two cases linked to the new variant of the omicron were confirmed today by Britain. The UK just announced new travel measures to combat the variant. Travelers must now undergo a PCR test on arrival and be quarantined until a negative result is received.
Germany indicated that it may have one case. After two South African flights with 61 passengers were found to be positive for COVID-19, Dutch authorities are now looking into the possibility of a new variant.
Omicron is causing concern because of its high number of mutations and belief that it carries a higher degree of infection. Omicron could be resistant to vaccines, which could lead to serious complications. “breakthrough”For those who are already vaccinated, there may be cases. Due to long incubation times, it can take weeks for a decision to be made. This happens at the busiest time of year for travel across the globe.
US President Joe Biden spoke Friday to reporters about the new variant. “I’ve decided that we’re going to be cautious.” The US will restrict travel from South Africa and seven other nearby countries beginning Monday.
White House advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci stated that the travel blocks were being addressed by the White House “is to just give us time to assess it better. That’s the reason for doing that, not any reason to panic, but we want to give us some time to really fill in the blanks of what we don’t know right now.”
Health officials worldwide were concerned about the variant’s swift spread among young people in South Africa, even though there was no immediate indication whether the variant causes more severe disease.
Pfizer and Moderna are just a few of the pharmaceutical companies that have announced plans to modify their vaccines in response to the emergence of Omicron. Pfizer and BioNTech, its partner, said that they will be able tweak their vaccine within around 100 days.