Just in time for the holidays, a new variant of the Coronavirus is on the rise. Many countries looking to ban travel and reinforce another round of lockdowns to prevent the virus from spreading.
The UK, Germany, and Italy have recently confirmed their first two cases of the new Omicron strain of coronavirus.
The virus has initiated many countries to enforce restrictions such as travel bans on several southern African countries.
The Omicron variant, which scientists say has a high number of mutations, was first detected in South Africa last week. Cases have also been reported in travelers in Belgium, Israel and Hong Kong.
The mutations in Omicron, also known as B.1.1.529, could help the virus evade the body’s immune response and make it more transmissible, according to scientists. It could take weeks to know if current vaccines are less effective against it.
US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the latest situation regarding the Omicron variant, the White House said.
“At the same time, senior health officials and the COVID response team have been monitoring the latest updates on Omicron and in regular touch with health officials around the world,” a White House official said in a statement.
Some of 61 COVID-19 cases detected among a group of passengers that arrived in the Netherlands from South Africa this week are likely to be the Omicron variant, health authorities has said.
“In a number of the tested persons the Omicron variant is presumed to have been found,” the Netherlands Institute for Health (RIVM) said in a statement.
A spokesperson for the RIVM said it was “almost certain” the cases were of the new variant but further testing is needed.
Kuwait has suspended direct flights from nine African countries, the cabinet has said.
The countries include South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zambia and Malawi.
Italy says it has detected its first case of Omicron in a traveller from Mozambique.
“The patient and the members of their family are in good health,” the national health institute said in a statement.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced “temporary and precautionary” measures to be reviewed in three weeks, alongside a “boost” to the booster campaign.
Mask rules will be mandatory in shops and on public transport in the UK, Omicron contacts will have to self-isolate and new arrivals will have to quarantine until they test negative for coronavirus.
Johnson warned the new variant could reduce the effectiveness of vaccines, as he announced a strengthening of England’s rules at a Downing Street press conference, after the infections were identified in Nottingham and Brentwood in Essex.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and State Department have advised against travel to eight southern African countries after the White House announced new travel restrictions.
The CDC raised its travel recommendation to “Level Four: Very High” for South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho, Eswatini and Botswana while the State Department issued parallel “Do Not Travel” advisories.
On Monday, the CDC had lowered its COVID-19 travel advisory for South Africa to “Level 1: Low.”
Two cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in the southern German state of Bavaria, the regional health ministry has said.
The two infected people entered Germany at Munich airport on November 24, before Germany designated South Africa as a virus-variant area, and are now isolating, the ministry said.
