The newly identified virus known as B.1.1.529, is causing an unusually high number of mutations that make it more transmissible and could result in immune evasion.
These are the countries that have announced restrictions so far:
* Italy
* Austria
* France
* Japan
*The United Kingdom
*Singapore
*The Netherlands
* Malta
* Malaysia
*Morocco
*Philippines
The closures were announced late yesterday. All flights from these six African countries have been suspended:
South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini.
Germany plans on declaring South Africa a "virus variant area" as of tonight, which will mean that airlines may only enter the country to repatriate German citizens.
Israel's Prime Minister Nattali Bennett announced sweeping travel restrictions for most of Africa after one case of the new COVID-19 variant was confirmed in the country.
President Biden announced new travel restrictions today to and from the six African countries affected, after the World Health Association labeled the new strain as a "variant of concern."
Dr. Anthony Fauci said there is no indication that the new variant - Omicron - is currently in the United States.
According to Fauci, the U.S. is bidding time (with the restrictions) while trying to determine if its vaccines will provide protection against the new Omicron variant.
Tragically, it doesn't look like the world can do anything about the global ongoing mutations other than react to them in real time.
No comments:
Post a Comment