March 29, 2024

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New COVID Variant of ‘Concern’ Drives U.S. Travel Bans

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Nov. 26, 2021 — The World Health Corporation on Friday categorized a new COVID-19 variant from South Africa as a “variant of problem,” which indicates it could be a lot more contagious, trigger a lot more extreme disorder and minimize the efficacy of vaccines and treatment plans.

The WHO convened an independent team of specialists on Friday to evaluate the new variant primarily based on the immediate enhance in COVID-19 infections in South Africa this 7 days. Acknowledged scientifically as B.1.1.529, the variant was named Omicron.

“Omicron has some about homes. This variant has a substantial number of mutations, and some of these mutations have some stressing traits,” Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical direct on the coronavirus pandemic, explained in a movie assertion.

“Preliminary proof implies an amplified risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other [variants of problem],” the WHO explained in a assertion. “The number of cases of this variant appears to be raising in virtually all provinces in South Africa.”

In response, the White Home declared new travel limits towards flights from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Overseas nationals from those international locations will be prohibited from getting into the United States. .

“These new limits will acquire impact on November 29,” President Joe Biden explained in a assertion.” As we transfer forward, we will proceed to be guided by what the science and my clinical team advises.”

The U.S. has not detected any cases of the new variant nevertheless, Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disorders, advised CNN. 

“Right now, we’re getting the materials jointly with our South African colleagues to get to a problem the place you could really directly exam it,” Fauci explained. “So, right now you’re talking about … a crimson flag that this could possibly be an concern — but we do not know.”

Experts in South Africa started tracking the variant this 7 days following a bounce in COVID-19 cases and claimed the variant to the WHO on Wednesday. The initial recognized verified infection was from a sample gathered on Nov. nine, the WHO explained.

Many labs have found that just one extensively utilized exam could be a dependable way to detect the new variant. The WHO’s virus evolution advisory team has begun “a number of studies” to evaluate Omicron and will announce new results as desired, Van Kerkhove explained Friday.

Based mostly on the proof so far, the WHO suggested international locations to greatly enhance their surveillance and genomic sequencing endeavours to improved comprehend the variant. The WHO also requested that international locations post genomic sequences to general public databases, these kinds of as GISAID. On Friday, sixty six sequences of the B.1.1.529 variant experienced been claimed to GISAID, like 58 in South Africa, 6 in Botswana and two in Hong Kong.

The WHO also questioned international locations to perform industry investigations and lab analyses about the severity of the variant, as properly as immune responses, antibody neutralization and performance of general public well being and social actions.

“Individuals are reminded to acquire actions to minimize their risk of COVID-19, like proven general public well being and social actions these kinds of as carrying properly-fitting masks, hand cleanliness, actual physical distancing, increasing ventilation of indoor spaces, avoiding crowded spaces and getting vaccinated,” the WHO explained.

Biden identified as on other nations to enhance vaccine donations to poorer nations.

“The information about this new variant should really make clearer than at any time why this pandemic will not end right until we have international vaccinations,” Biden explained. “The United States has by now donated a lot more vaccines to other international locations than just about every other country combined. It is time for other international locations to match America’s pace and generosity.”

Israel imposed a travel ban masking most of Africa following getting its initial scenario in another person who experienced not long ago traveled from Malawi. A increasing listing of international locations halted or limited flights, like Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Singapore, The New York Times claimed.

“We are at present at the threshold of an crisis problem,” Naftali Bennett, the primary minister of Israel, explained in a assertion.

“I talk to anyone to be organized and to completely be part of in the do the job about the clock,” he explained.

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