Omicron variant prompts widespread international travel restrictions

They may both be Greek but Omicron is not Armageddon

Omicron is a variant of concern to the WHO, to all of us. But it is not Armageddon. Nor was Delta nor Mu nor will be any of the variants that emerge while much of the world remains shamefully unvaccinated.

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INTERNATIONAL. More countries have imposed travel restrictions on visitors from multiple African nations as concern mounts over the latest COVID-19 variant dubbed Omicron (formerly B.1.1.529) by the World Health Organization (WHO).

At a meeting on Friday where it bestowed the Greek letter Omicron on the variant, WHO declared it “of concern”. The variant was first reported to WHO from South Africa on 24 November, the organisation said. As of 26 November, travel-related cases outside Africa have been detected in Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel.

“This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning,” WHO commented in a statement. “Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other VOCs [variants of concern].”

Omicron has been detected at faster rates than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this variant may have a “growth advantage”.

Click here to read the complete WHO statement

The news is yet another blow to an embattled international travel sector in which 98% of destinations still had some form of travel restrictions in place even before the latest crackdowns, according to World Tourism Organization figures revealed last week.

President Joe Biden announced Friday that the US will restrict travel from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi starting Monday. As reported, several European and Asian countries have also tightened travel restrictions

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control warned on Friday that Omicron poses a “high to very high” risk to Europe. “There is considerable uncertainty related to the transmissibility, vaccine effectiveness, risk for reinfections and other properties of the Omicron variant,” it said.

Click here to read the full report from European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

“However, given its immune escape potential and potentially increased transmissibility advantage compared to Delta, we assess the probability of further introduction and community spread in the EU/EEA as HIGH. In a situation where the Delta variant is resurgent in the EU/EEA, the impact of the introduction and possible further spread of Omicron could be VERY HIGH. In conclusion, the overall level of risk for the EU/EEA associated with the SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron is assessed as HIGH to VERY HIGH.”

Chinese state-controlled media Global Times, however, offered a refreshingly restrained view of the situation. “Chinese experts believe there is no need to panic as the large number of mutations does not necessarily indicate high infectivity, and Chinese scientists are able to come up with new variant-specific vaccine in about two weeks,” it reported.

“Although Chinas Hong Kong Special Administrative Region also reported two imported cases infected with the new variant [imported and imported-related -Ed], experts said that it was unlikely to pose a challenge to the planned border reopening between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong,” Global Times said.

Click on the image to read the full Global Times report

Jin Dongyan, a biomedical professor at the University of Hong Kong, told Global Times on Friday that people should be vigilant to Omicron and that the government should reinforce monitoring and research, but there is no need to panic. Jin said there is no data or evidence on its global threat and its resistance to vaccines.

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