Omicron Covid-19 variant: prime worldwide developments right this moment

Around every week after South African well being consultants alerted the world to a brand new, doubtlessly harmful variant of novel coronavirus, India has prolonged the nationwide Covid-19 containment measures until December 31. Health officers have mentioned that the variant was in Europe a number of days sooner than beforehand recognized, and greater than 20 nations have reported instances of omicron variant.
As the conditions unfolds quickly, listed here are the highest 5 omicron-related developments right this moment, from world wide.
1. US tightens journey guidelines
The United States is transferring to require that every one air travellers getting into the nation present a unfavourable Covid-19 take a look at carried out inside at some point of departure, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mentioned late on Tuesday. Currently, vaccinated worldwide travellers can current a unfavourable end result obtained inside three days from their level of departure. The new one-day testing requirement would apply to US residents in addition to international nationals.

2. Saudi, Brazil report first omicron instances
Saudi Arabia confirmed its first case of the Omicron Covid-19 variant coming from a north African nation, the state information company mentioned on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Brazilian well being regulator Anvisa mentioned that two Brazilians had examined optimistic for the variant, the primary reported instances in Latin America. The regulatory physique mentioned a traveller arriving in Sao Paulo from South Africa and his spouse, who had not travelled, each examined optimistic for the brand new variant, including to issues of worldwide Omicron unfold earlier than latest journey bans went into impact.

3. Fiji welcomes again vacationers regardless of omicron risk
Fiji welcomed again its first vacationers in additional than 600 days on Wednesday after pushing forward with reopening plans regardless of the risk posed by the omicron variant. Tourism Fiji Chief Executive Brent Hill mentioned 75,000 vacationers had booked journey to the nation over the following couple of months. Fiji was spared from the worst of the virus till April, when an outbreak of the delta variant took maintain. The outbreak killed practically 700 individuals however has now light to about 5 new infections every day.
4. WHO tweaks journey recommendation for omicron variant
The World Health Organisation is tweaking its journey recommendation with regard to the omicron variant simply hours after releasing it. The UN well being company initially mentioned that people who find themselves unwell or vulnerable to creating extreme Covid-19 illness and dying are suggested to postpone journey. The advice applies to people who find themselves at the very least 60 years previous and people with co-morbidities, together with most cancers, coronary heart illness and diabetes.
But the WHO revised that assertion later to say that individuals who haven’t been totally vaccinated or don’t have proof of earlier an infection and are at better threat are suggested to postpone journey to areas with “community transmission,” the place it’s spreading extra broadly.

5. France, Portugal see worsening state of affairs
Many European nations, France and Portugal particularly, are seeing a hike in Covid-19 infections within the latest days. French Health Minister Olivier Véran mentioned that 47,000 new infections had been confirmed over the earlier 24 hours, in accordance with France-based information community Euro News. It mentioned that the variety of every day new instances has been over 30,000 for every week, below 23,000 every week in the past and 15,000 two weeks in the past.
In Portugal, a pediatric unit was closed down as a hospital employee examined optimistic for the omicron variant. A Euro News report mentioned that the employee had been involved with members of a Portuguese soccer membership the place there have been at the very least 13 instances of the brand new variant. The nation is implementing a brand new set of restrictions to entry public companies, together with vaccine certificates and necessary face masks.
(With inputs from Reuters and Associated Press)