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Omicron Reaches at Least 13 Countries Despite Travel Curbs

  • Posted Nov 29, 2021 17:20 by Rosahlee Bautista
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INTERNATIONAL: Travelers lined up at airports to exit South Africa on Saturday as Britain and other countries have imposed restrictions on entrants from the region, following the discovery of a new coronavirus variant called Omicron, as announced by South Africa on Friday.

The World Health Organization has dubbed it a "variant of concern". Omicron is potentially more contagious than previous variants of the disease. It was first discovered in South Africa and has since been detected in Belgium, Botswana, Israel and Hong Kong.

Travelers started to have hysteria trying to make it back to their respective countries before borders are shut. Omicron has Reached At Least 13 Countries Despite Travel Curbs. The rapid spread of the new variant shows the difficulties of curtailing new strains of Covid-19, as researchers worldwide race to understand the full impact of the new variant.

On Friday, Britain has banned flights from South Africa and its neighbouring countries, while the European Commission the EU also aimed to halt air travel from the region.

Not only Europe and United States, Japan on Monday, 29 November has made an announcement that it bans entry of foreign visitors as omicron spreads. While Sri Lanka, Thailand and Oman have also announced travel curbs on southern African nations.

Researchers worldwide are racing to understand the full impact of the new strain and governments have banned travelers from South Africa and nearby countries on concerns Omicron could evade the protection of vaccines or fuel new Covid surges.Here's how far Omicron has reached: South Africa: Early samples of PCR tests showed that 90 percent of 1,100 new cases reported midweek in the South African province that includes Johannesburg were caused by the new variant; 19 cases were detected in Botswana; At least three confirmed cases in UK linked to travel in South Africa ; Germany has two cases in travelers who arrived at Munich airport from South Africa; Thirteen cases detected in Netherlands among travelers from South Africa ; Denmark has two cases in arrivals from South Africa ; One case in Belgium, brought by traveler from Egypt. One confirmed case in Israel as of 27 November; Czech Republic has also one case; Hong Kong has reported two cases in quarantine hotel; Two cases in Australia's New South Wales state. Both had traveled from South Africa.

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