The first two cases of the new Omicron coronavirus strain, connected to travel from southern Africa, have been confirmed in the United Kingdom and Germany.
Several countries have placed restrictions, such as travel bans on several southern African countries, despite the World Health Organization’s advice, while others have imposed new lockdowns to stop COVID-19 from spreading.
Last week, scientists discovered the Omicron variety, which has a large number of mutations, in South Africa. Cases have been confirmed in Belgium, Israel, and Hong Kong, in addition to the United Kingdom.
The mutations in Omicron, also known as B.1.1.529, could help the virus evade the body’s immune response and make it more transmissible, according to scientists. It could take weeks to know if current vaccines are less effective against it.
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced: “temporary and precautionary” measures to be reviewed in three weeks, alongside a “boost” to the booster campaign.
Mask rules will be mandatory in shops and on public transport in the UK, Omicron contacts will have to self-isolate and new arrivals will have to quarantine until they test negative for coronavirus.
Johnson warned the new variant could reduce the effectiveness of vaccines, as he announced a strengthening of England’s rules at a Downing Street press conference after the infections were identified in Nottingham and Brentwood in Essex.
He said the UK is still in a “much, much stronger position” to tackle the Omicron variant because of its vaccination program.
“There’s nothing that we’ve announced tonight that changes for the position for hospitality and … I believe that as a result of the vaccination program and of the booster program that is going very, very fast now that the UK is in a much, much stronger position,” he told a news conference.
“And it’s in order to retain that strong position that we’re taking the sensible precautionary steps that we are taking today.”
Following the White House’s announcement of additional travel restrictions, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and State Department have cautioned against traveling to eight southern African nations.
The CDC increased its travel warnings for South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Botswana to “Level Four: Very High,” while the State Department issued similar “Do Not Travel” cautions.
The CDC reduced its COVID-19 travel alert for South Africa to “Level 1: Low” on Monday.
According to the regional health ministry in Bavaria, two cases of the Omicron variety have been discovered in Germany.
The two infected persons arrived in Germany on November 24 at Munich airport, before Germany identified South Africa as a virus-variant region, and are now being isolated, according to the ministry.
Ada Peter
