New circumstances of the Omicron coronavirus variant have been detected around the globe, with two circumstances reported in Australia, as extra nations attempt to seal themselves off by imposing journey restrictions.
First found in South Africa, Omicron has since been recorded within the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Botswana, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy and the UK.
The invention of Omicron, dubbed a “variant of concern” on Friday by the World Well being Group, sparked worries that it might resist vaccines and extend the practically two-year COVID pandemic.
Omicron is probably extra contagious than earlier variants, however specialists have no idea but if it’ll trigger roughly extreme COVID-19.
Listed below are the most recent updates:
‘Race in opposition to time’ to deal with new variant: EU chief
European Fee chief Ursula von der Leyen has stated the world was in a “race in opposition to time” to know the brand new COVID variant and, if wanted, modify vaccines to counter it.
“We all know we at the moment are in a race in opposition to time,” von der Leyen stated throughout a go to to Riga, calling for the general public to take precautions to provide scientists time to know the Omicron pressure.
“The scientists and producers want two to a few weeks to have a full image in regards to the high quality of the mutations of this Omicron variant,” she added.
To behave in a well timed, efficient method, correct info and evaluation capability is important.
That is why the EU wants its personal Joint Situational Consciousness Centre.
Such a centre would assist the EU bundle its know-how on countering hybrid assaults. https://t.co/UHaua62J50
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) November 28, 2021
OPEC postpones technical conferences to guage Omicron impression: Report
The Group of Petroleum Exporting International locations (OPEC) is transferring two technical conferences to later this week with a purpose to give committees extra time to guage the impression of the Omicron variant, Bloomberg Information has reported, citing delegates from some member nations.
The joint ministerial monitoring committee, which includes representatives of the broader oil producing OPEC+ group, will meet on Thursday, the report stated.
The UK information 37,681 COVID-19 circumstances, 51 deaths
The UK has reported 37,681 extra COVID-19 circumstances and an extra 51 deaths inside 28 days of a constructive take a look at, in response to official knowledge.
On Saturday, the nation recorded 39,567 new infections and 131 deaths.
Ghana to make vaccine obligatory for focused teams from January
Ghana will ramp up its COVID-19 inoculation marketing campaign subsequent month and make the vaccine obligatory for focused teams together with all public sector and well being employees from January 22, well being service director normal Patrick Kuma-Aboagye has stated.
Ghana, like most African nations, has seen a sluggish uptake in COVID-19 vaccinations regardless of a rise in provides. Just one.4 million individuals out Ghana’s inhabitants of 30 million are totally vaccinated.
Swiss vote to approve COVID restrictions
Swiss voters have backed the federal government’s pandemic response plan in a referendum by a transparent majority, paving the way in which for the continuation of remarkable measures to stem the rising tide of circumstances.
The federal government’s tally confirmed a majority of 62.01 % of voters supporting the legislation handed earlier this 12 months to offer monetary assist to individuals hit by the COVID-19 disaster and permitting for COVID-certificates, which give proof of vaccination, restoration or a unfavorable take a look at and that are presently required to enter eating places and sure occasions.
UK information third case of Omicron
The UK has recorded the third case of the Omicron variant, the UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA) stated, including that the person, who was now not within the UK, was linked to journey to southern Africa.
UKHSA stated that whereas within the UK, the person was in Westminster in central London.
Djokovic ‘most likely gained’t’ play Australian Open
Novak Djokovic “most likely gained’t” play the Australian Open in January over obligatory COVID vaccination guidelines, the world primary’s father has stated, likening the restrictions to “blackmail”.
The 34-year-old Djokovic, who can be bidding for a record-breaking twenty first Grand Slam title in Melbourne, has refused to say whether or not or not he has been vaccinated in opposition to coronavirus.
However Australian Open event chief Craig Tiley has stated that each one gamers should be inoculated to participate.
Philippines tightens border controls
The Philippines has additional tightened border controls to maintain out the Omicron variant, including seven European nations to a journey ban that originally lined seven African nations.
The nation’s coronavirus job power positioned Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy beneath its “crimson record” till December 15, banning the entry of travellers from these nations.
Hundreds protest in opposition to Czech COVID measures
A number of thousand individuals have protested in Prague in opposition to anti-coronavirus restrictions as many Czech hospitals halted non-urgent procedures within the face of one of many world’s quickest charges of latest infections.
Gathered in a park overlooking the Czech capital’s centre, protesters waved nationwide flags and carried indicators with slogans resembling: “Get vaccinated? Over your useless our bodies”.
Morocco bans all inbound flights for 2 weeks
Morocco will ban all inbound worldwide passenger flights for 2 weeks beginning November 29 on account of issues over the Omicron variant, the Moroccan authorities has stated in an announcement.
US ought to be ready to do ‘something’: Fauci
Dr Anthony Fauci, the highest US infectious illness professional, has stated that People ought to be ready to do “something and all the things” to combat the unfold of the variant Omicron.
It’s “too early to say” whether or not we want new lockdowns or mandates, Fauci advised ABC Information.
“You need to be ready to do something and all the things,” he stated.
COVID booster recommendation ought to come imminently: UK minister
UK’s well being minister Sajid Javid has stated he expects to obtain recommendation imminently on whether or not the federal government can broaden a booster shot programme to attempt to weaken the impression of the Omicron variant.
The federal government introduced new measures to attempt to sluggish the unfold of the variant.
However ministers additionally need to ramp up the supply of booster jabs, saying even when vaccines show to be much less efficient in opposition to Omicron, they need to supply higher safety in opposition to it and cut back the variety of hospitalisations and deaths.
17 MILLION boosters have now been given throughout the UK.
It has by no means been extra necessary to get your vaccine and #GetBoostedhttps://t.co/1tG5lkUofM
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) November 27, 2021
Rugby-Eire’s Munster to stay in Cape City after constructive COVID take a look at
Irish rugby crew Munster are to stay in Cape City after one of many travelling social gathering examined constructive for COVID-19, the membership has stated.
Munster are one in all a number of European rugby union groups that have been in South Africa when authorities raised the alarm in regards to the new variant.
Journey Replace #MunsterInSA 🇿🇦
Munster Rugby will stay in Cape City whereas we wait on subsequent steps from the well being authorities after returning one constructive case in our newest testing.
Thanks for all of the messages of help and finest needs.#SUAF 🔴
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) November 28, 2021
Germany confirms third case of Omicron
Well being officers within the German state of Hesse have confirmed a case of the Omicron variant, bringing the overall variety of circumstances in Germany to a few.
The Hesse case was confirmed by sequencing, the state’s social affairs minister Kai Klose tweeted.
Indonesia bans arrivals from eight African nations
Indonesia will ban the entry of travellers who’ve been in eight African nations and prolong quarantine occasions for all arrivals to curb the unfold of the Omicron variant, officers have stated.
The ban extends to individuals who have been in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini or Nigeria prior to now 14 days.
Delegates attending G20 conferences, which Indonesia chairs, is not going to be affected.
Hey, that is Elizabeth Melimopoulos taking up the dwell weblog from my colleague Tamila Varshalomidze.
Denmark registers Omicron variant in two travellers
Denmark has registered two circumstances of the brand new Omicron coronavirus variant in travellers from South Africa, in response to the nation’s infectious illness authority.
“This was to be anticipated, and our technique is due to this fact to proceed intensive monitoring of the an infection within the nation,” Henrik Ullum, CEO of the Statens Serum Institute, stated in an announcement.
The 2 individuals, who travelled to Denmark by aircraft, have been put in isolation and authorities are tracing any shut contacts.
‘Absolute chaos’ in South Africa as flights grounded
Disbelief and confusion washed over South Africa because the announcement of the invention of the Omicron COVID-19 variant grounded flights and raised fears of a tough lockdown in Africa’s most developed financial system.
Flights from the nation to america, United Kingdom and nations in Europe have been swiftly banned after South African scientists formally introduced the invention of the virus pressure on Thursday.
Learn extra right here.
Customers sporting face masks on a crowded footpath in Pretoria, South Africa [Denis Farrell/AP]
Dutch authorities discover 13 circumstances of Omicron variant
Dutch well being authorities have stated that 13 circumstances of the brand new Omicron coronavirus variant have been discovered within the Netherlands amongst passengers who have been on flights from South Africa earlier this week.
The Nationwide Institute for Public Well being (RIVM) confirmed the circumstances in an announcement.
Travellers arrive in Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands [Eva Plevier/Reuters]
UK to implement new COVID guidelines from Tuesday
Britain’s authorities has defended the tempo and scale of its response to the brand new Omicron pressure of COVID-19 in opposition to criticism that it was once more falling behind the curve.
Well being Secretary Sajid Javid stated obligatory mask-wearing will return to retailers and public transport in England on Tuesday, and advised households to plan for Christmas “as regular”, regardless of new guidelines to deal with the Omicron variant.
Additionally from Tuesday, all passengers arriving in Britain are being instructed to take a PCR take a look at for COVID-19 and self-isolate till they register unfavorable.
Dozens on South Africa flights take a look at constructive for COVID in Netherlands
Dutch well being authorities say they’ve detected 61 COVID-19 circumstances amongst individuals who flew in from South Africa.
In an announcement on Saturday, the Dutch Well being Authority (GDD) stated that the circumstances have been found amongst 624 passengers who arrived at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on two flights on Friday.
Learn extra right here.
Israel tightens journey restrictions over new COVID variant
Israel says it’ll ban the entry of all foreigners into the nation, making it the primary nation to close its borders fully in response to a brand new and probably extra contagious coronavirus variant.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated the ban, pending authorities approval, would final 14 days.
Learn extra right here.
An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man exits Ben Gurion worldwide airport close to Tel Aviv [Ammar Awad/Reuters]
Swiss voters look set to again COVID-19 response plan
Swiss voters regarded more likely to again the federal government’s pandemic response plan in a referendum, paving the way in which for the continuation of remarkable measures to stem the rising tide of COVID-19 circumstances.
Early authorities tallies of Sunday’s polls confirmed a little bit greater than 60 % of the votes up to now supporting the legislation handed this 12 months to offer monetary assist to individuals hit by the COVID-19 disaster and to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination, restoration or a unfavorable take a look at to enter bars, eating places and sure occasions.
Restrictions to public life to curb coronavirus infections have sparked opposition in Switzerland, triggering a binding referendum beneath the nation’s system of direct democracy, whilst circumstances have risen to ranges the federal government this week deemed “important”.
Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Sudan ban flights from African nations
Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Sudan have suspended flights with quite a few African nations on account of Omicron.
Saudi state information company SPA, citing a supply with the inside ministry, stated direct flights with Angola, Comoros, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zambia had been suspended.
On Friday, the dominion banned flights from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe amid Omicron fears.
Bahrain additionally banned passengers from Angola, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, in response to the state information company, BNA. Bahraini nationals and holders of legitimate visas to Bahrain, nevertheless, have been allowed to enter.
Well being authorities in Sudan additionally banned flights from Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe over the variant.
Omicron variant probably in France: Well being minister
Omicron might be already circulating in France, its well being minister stated, including that the federal government was tightening restrictions to comprise it.
“As soon as the variant is circulating in England, in Italy, in Belgium, it’s possible that there are already circumstances in circulation right here. We’ll establish them and (…) we are going to decelerate its unfold as a lot as attainable,” Olivier Veran advised reporters at a vaccination centre in Paris.
France is within the midst of a fifth wave of the virus. It recorded greater than 37,000 constructive circumstances on Saturday and a pointy rise within the variety of sufferers in intensive care.
