30th Nov 2021 https://nfind.uk/lockdown_exit/index.php/newsletter=549 lockdown_exit

Lockdown Exit

Aljazeera.com Countries around the world reimpose travel restrictions in response to new Omicron variant. Countries around the world were starting to reopen their borders and lift COVID19 restrictions. But a new variant is now threatening to derail the progress made in the past few months. Several nations have already imposed travel restrictions to and from Southern Africa where the Omicron variant was first detected. https://www.aljazeera.com/program/inside-story/2021/11/29/are-governments-prepared-to-deal-with-a-new-variant 29th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

The Associated Press The World Health Organization warned Monday that the global risk from the omicron variant is very high based on the early evidence saying the mutated coronavirus could lead to surges with severe consequences. The assessment from the U.N. health agency contained in a technical paper issued to member states amounted to WHOs strongest most explicit warning yet about the new version that was first identified days ago by researchers in South Africa. It came as a widening circle of countries around the world reported cases of the variant and moved to slam their doors in an actnowaskquestionslater approach while scientists race to figure out just how dangerous the mutant version might be. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-omicron-variant-covid-restrictions-82e53a7a17d1a4c30031065d389bda37 29th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters The British Airline Pilots Association BALPA on Monday urged the government to establish a winter resilience fund to support the ailing aviation industry after some travel curbs were brought back to contain the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant. The latest changes have shattered the fledgling confidence in air travel including for Christmas and new year bookings said BALPA in a statement. Britain which has so far reported 11 cases of the variant has said arrivals from all countries would have to selfisolate until they receive a negative result from a PCR test and that face masks must be worn in retail settings. https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/pilots-union-asks-britain-set-up-winter-fund-amid-omicron-concerns-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters The Omicron COVID19 variant could hurt global growth prospects while also pushing prices higher rating agencies Fitch Ratings and Moodys Investors Service said on Monday after the World Health Organization said the variant carried a very high risk of infection surges. The Omicron variant poses risks to global growth and inflation especially as it comes during a period of already stretched supply chains elevated inflation and labor market shortages Elena Duggar Associate Managing Director at Moodys told Reuters in emailed comments. https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/omicron-covid-19-variant-poses-risks-global-growth-inflation-rating-agencies-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters The White House told federal agencies on Monday they can delay punishing thousands of federal workers who failed to comply with a Nov. 22 COVID19 vaccination deadline. On Wednesday the Biden administration said a total of 92 of U.S. federal workers have received at least one dose of a COVID19 vaccine. Overall 96.5 of the 3.5 million federal workers were considered to be in compliance with the administrations mandate announced in September because they either were vaccinated or had an exemption request granted or under consideration. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/white-house-says-us-agencies-can-delay-punishing-unvaccinated-federal-workers-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters As scientists race to understand the consequences of the Omicron COVID19 variant one of the most important questions is whether this new version of the coronavirus can outrun the globally dominant Delta variant. The World Health Organization on Friday designated Omicron a variant of concern just days after the variant was first reported in southern Africa. The WHO said it is coordinating with many researchers worldwide to better understand how the variant will impact the COVID19 pandemic with new findings expected within days and weeks. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/how-fast-does-it-spread-scientists-ask-whether-omicron-can-outrun-delta-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Singapore and Malaysia reopened one of the worlds busiest land borders on Monday allowing vaccinated travellers to cross after nearly two years of being shut due to the COVID19 pandemic. Although travellers welcomed the chance to reunite with family and friends there were concerns the border might be closed again due to the new Omicron coronavirus variant. As many as 300000 Malaysians commuted daily to Singapore before the pandemic. The sudden closing of the border in March 2020 left tens of thousands stranded on both sides separated from families and fearing for their jobs. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/singapore-malaysia-reopen-busy-land-border-vaccinated-travellers-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday the country will move into a system of living with the COVID19 virus later this week despite the new Omicron variant posing a fresh health threat to the world. There were no cases of the Omicron variant in New Zealand at this stage but the developing global situation showed why a cautious approach was needed at the borders she said. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealand-ease-covid-measures-this-week-despite-omicron-threat-pm-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Lockdown Exit

Reuters Widespread use of COVID19 passports and vaccines helped tourism recover faster in the European Union than in other parts of the world in the third quarter of 2021 a U.N. report said on Monday. Globally international tourist arrivals rose 58 between July and September compared with the same period in 2020 the U.N. World Tourism Organisation barometer said. That was still 64 below the same period in 2019 before the pandemic. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-covid-19-passports-vaccines-helped-european-tourism-recovery-un-report-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Al Jazeera English on MSN.com President Xi Jinping has said China would offer another one billion doses of COVID19 vaccines to African countries and would encourage Chinese companies to invest no less than 10bn in Africa across the next three years. The pledge of additional vaccine doses on top of the nearly 200 million that China has already supplied to the continent comes as concerns intensify about the spread of a new variant of the coronavirus known as Omicron which was first identified in southern Africa. The Chinese leader said that his country would donate 600 million doses directly. A further 400 million doses would come from other sources such as investments in production sites https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-e2-80-99s-xi-promises-1bn-covid-19-vaccine-doses-to-africa/ar-AARgomh 29th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

The Guardian Nursing unions in 28 countries have filed a formal appeal with the United Nations over the refusal of the UK EU and others to temporarily waive patents for Covid vaccines saying this has cost huge numbers of lives in developing nations. The letter sent on Monday on behalf of unions representing more than 2.5 million healthcare workers said staff have witnessed at first hand the staggering numbers of deaths and the immense suffering caused by political inaction. The refusal of some countries to budge on rules about intellectual property rights for vaccines had contributed to a vaccine apartheid in which richer nations had secured at least 7bn doses while lowerincome nations had about 300m it argued. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/29/nursing-unions-around-world-call-for-un-action-on-covid-vaccine-patents 29th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

The Independent Booster jabs should now be offered to all over18s the governments Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations JCVI has said. The JCVI has also said gaps between the second Covid19 vaccine and booster shots should be reduced from six months to three months. Although JCVI has advised all adults should now have their boosters it has said those who are clinically vulnerable should be prioritised and in order of descending age groups as was done during the second and first phases of the vaccination programme. Over 40s are already eligible to have their boosters. Those who are immunocompromised should be offered another booster meaning they will have their fourth vaccination. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-booster-vaccine-update-omicron-b1966147.html 29th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Evening Standard All adults in Britain are to be offered booster jabs to step up the battle against the Omicron Covid19 variant a vaccines chief said on Monday. Professor Anthony Harnden deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation JCVI confirmed the booster programme would be extended to 18 to 39yearolds. Six more cases of the Omicron variant were confirmed in Scotland as health chiefs were racing to trace the contacts of other individuals who got the mutated virus including one person from southern Africa who visited the Westminster borough. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/all-adults-offered-covid-booster-jab-anthony-harnden-jcvi-b968849.html 29th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters Australia said on Monday it would delay the reopening of its international border by two weeks after reporting its first cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant. Prime Minister Scott Morrison convened a meeting of his national security committee and said it received advice from Australias chief health officer to delay the reopening after the first cases of the new variant were detected on Sunday. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-reopening-plans-doubt-after-omicron-cases-2021-11-28/ 29th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters South Korea said on Monday it has shelved plans to further relax COVID19 restrictions due to the strain on its healthcare system from rising hospitalisation and death rates as well as the threat posed by the new Omicron variant. President Moon Jaein said the crisis had deepened and called for a united response to prevent the variant from entering the country including the mobilisation of more personnel and tightening contact tracing. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/skorea-shelves-plans-ease-covid-measures-due-high-case-count-omicron-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters President Xi Jinping on Monday said China would offer another 1 billion doses of COVID19 vaccines to African countries and would encourage Chinese companies to invest no less than 10 billion in Africa over the next three years. The pledge of additional vaccine doses on top of the nearly 200 million that China has already supplied to the continent comes as concerns intensify over the spread of a new variant of the coronavirus known as Omicron which was first identified in southern Africa https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/chinas-xi-pledges-10-bln-credit-line-african-financial-institutions-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters India will make onarrival COVID19 testing mandatory for flyers from more than a dozen countries including South Africa and Britain where the Omicron variant has been detected the health ministry said on Monday. The decision will be effective from Dec. 1 and comes after a man who recently returned from South Africa tested positive for COVID19 though it is not yet clear which strain of the coronavirus he contracted. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/india-steps-ups-covid-19-testing-international-flyers-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

Reuters South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday that authorities were considering making COVID19 shots compulsory for certain places and activities as a rise in infections linked to a new variant threatens to become a fourth wave. Only a quarter of South Africans are fully vaccinated against COVID19 despite a sufficient supply of doses owing partly to logistical problems getting them out to rural areas but also to vaccine hesitancy and apathy among the population. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/safrica-faces-4th-covid-19-wave-new-variant-behind-rising-infections-2021-11-28/ 29th Nov 2021

Exit Strategies

AlJazeera The Philippines has begun an ambitious campaign to vaccinate nine million people against COVID19 over three days as it temporarily suspended a decision to allow fully vaccinated tourists into the country after the emergence of the Omicron variant. The immunisation campaign was scaled back from an earlier target of 15 million shots but would still be a record in a country where vaccine hesitancy remains an obstacle and there are logistical hurdles to reach people in the sprawling archipelago. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/29/philippines-starts-three-day-nine-million-person-covid-jab-drive 29th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

The Associated Press Dr. Anthony Fauci the governments top infectious diseases expert blasted Sen. Ted Cruz for suggesting that Fauci be investigated for statements he made about COVID19 and said the criticism by the Texas Republican was an attack on science. I should be prosecuted What happened on Jan. 6 senator Fauci who is President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser said in an interview that aired Sunday on CBS Face the Nation. It was a reference to the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of thenPresident Donald Trump that was stoked as Cruz helped lead GOP objections to Congress certifying the 2020 election results. Im just going to do my job and Im going to be saving lives and theyre going to be lying Fauci said. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-donald-trump-joe-biden-science-health-80ad119f24f6e7d2e1342429403fde70 29th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

Reuters A federal judge on Monday blocked in 10 states a Biden administration vaccine requirement finding the agency that issued the rule mandating healthcare workers get vaccinated against the coronavirus likely exceeded its authority. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp in St. Louis prevents the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services CMS from enforcing its vaccine mandate for healthcare workers until the court can hear legal challenges brought by the 10 states. CMS in a statement said it was reviewing the ruling adding that unvaccinated healthcare staff pose a threat to patient safety. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/judge-blocks-us-covid-19-vaccine-rule-health-workers-10-states-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

The Moscow Times Russias rollout of a nationwide QR code system that would restrict access to public places and transport to encourage vaccination is running into widespread opposition from antilockdown activists even as Russias pandemic death toll continues to soar. With vaccine skepticism rife and only around 35 of Russians having received their jabs moves to make jabs all but obligatory have been met with dismay as polls show almost half of the population opposing the use of QR codes under any circumstances. Forcing people to get vaccinated through QR codes violates at least six articles of the Russian Constitution said Yevgeny Stupin a Communist member of the Moscow City Duma who has campaigned against Covid restrictions. https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/11/29/russian-vaccine-skeptics-oppose-covid-passes-a75695 29th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

Reuters Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday that there was no reason to worry in Mexico about the new COVID19 variant omicron. Speaking in his regular morning news conference he added that there was no information that existing vaccines are not effective against new variant. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/omicron-covid-19-variant-not-worry-mexico-president-says-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Partisan Exits

Reuters Several thousand people protested in Prague against anticoronavirus restrictions on Sunday as many Czech hospitals halted nonurgent procedures in the face of one of the worlds fastest rates of new infections. Gathered in a park overlooking the Czech capitals centre protesters waved national flags and carried signs with slogans such as Get vaccinated Over your dead bodies. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/thousands-protest-against-czech-covid-measures-hospitals-fill-2021-11-28/ 29th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech said on Monday it has resumed export of its COVID19 shot Covaxin and has executed longpending orders in November. The company also said exports to additional countries will commence from December according to a statement it shared on Twitter. It was not immediately clear whether or not these exports were made under the global vaccinesharing facility COVAX. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-bharat-biotech-resumes-exports-covid-19-vaccine-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The Guardian I am an epidemiologist working in global health and have worked in the field of vaccines for nearly 15 years. While the scientific successes of SarsCoV2 vaccine development have been surreal the inequity of the pandemic and access to vaccines has left me despondent. As Australia reaches almost 90 coverage for two doses of Covid19 vaccination its a success story worth celebrating. Covid19 vaccination has already proved to be highly effective at dampening widescale community transmission in settings such as New South Wales where a rapid rollout with high levels of firstdose coverage along with other public health measures helped with the bending of the curve. But the vast majority of low and middleincome countries have only vaccinated a small proportion of their population. An analysis suggests that while 66 of people in highincome countries are fully vaccinated only 2.5 of the population in lowincome countries are fully protected. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/29/could-the-omicron-variant-have-been-avoided-it-could-set-back-vaccine-successes-around-the-world 29th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Sky News The speed with which new variants of the COVID19 virus spread around the world can leave governments scrambling to catch up. What is sometimes more remarkable is the speed with which those new variants are detected. It has taken barely two weeks from the initial testing of patient zero before potentially the entire globe is readying itself to examine COVID test samples to see if they contain the Omicron variant. Patient zero called n1 or the index case by the scientific community arrived at Hong Kong International Airport on 11 November having flown in from South Africa via Doha in Qatar on flight QR818. https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-how-the-spread-of-omicron-went-from-patient-zero-to-all-around-the-globe-12482183 29th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

CNN The new Omicron variant might prompt a return to stricter Covid19 measures if not enough people get vaccinated or boosted health experts say. Omicron or the B.1.1.529 strain of novel coronavirus has already spurred international travel bans. The World Health Organization officially called it a variant of concern on Friday. The variant has not yet been detected in the US the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a Saturday update. But its fairly likely well see cases said Dr. Francis Collins director of the National Institutes of Health. https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/28/health/us-coronavirus-sunday/index.html 29th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Aspen Pharmacare is in advanced discussions over a potential licensing agreement to package the COVID19 vaccine in South Africa it said on Monday. The South African company did not mention the name of the company with which it was in talks but in early September it said it was in talks with U.S. pharma giant Johnson Johnson over a vaccine packaging licence. Aspen currently packages JJs COVID19 vaccine at its South African plant under contract which means it does not have any pricing or distribution power over the product. The company currently produces 300 million COVID19 vaccine doses annually under its JJ contract which are then supplied across Africa. It plans to ramp up capacity to 1.3 billion doses by February 2024 Chief Executive Stephen Saad told Reuters in October https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africas-aspen-advanced-talks-over-covid-19-vaccine-deal-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters BioNTech SE said on Monday it had started work on a vaccine tailored to Omicron the worrying new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa though it was not yet clear if it would have to rework its established COVID19 shot. The development of an adapted vaccine is part of the companys standard procedure for new variants BioNTech which makes vaccines together with Pfizer said in a statement. The first steps of developing a potential new vaccine overlap with the research necessary in order to evaluate whether a new shot will be needed it added. https://www.reuters.com/markets/stocks/biontech-starts-work-omicron-specific-vaccine-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters The heavily mutated Omicron coronavirus variant is likely to spread internationally and poses a very high risk of infection surges that could have severe consequences in some places the World Health Organization WHO said on Monday. No Omicronlinked deaths had yet been reported though further research was needed to assess its potential to resist vaccines and immunity induced by previous infections it added. Anticipating increased case numbers as the variant first reported last week spreads the U.N. agency urged its 194 member states to accelerate vaccination of highpriority groups. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/omicron-poses-very-high-global-risk-countries-must-prepare-who-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

Reuters Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc said on Monday its COVID19 diagnostic tests can accurately detect the new coronavirus variant Omicron that has prompted several countries to shut their borders. The World Health Organisation WHO last week classified the Omicron variant as a SARSCoV2 variant of concern saying it may spread more quickly than other forms. Thermo Fishers TaqPath COVID19 assays can report accurate results even in the case where one of the gene targets is impacted by a mutation the company said in a statement. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/thermo-fisher-says-its-covid-19-tests-accurately-detects-omicron-variant-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

The Associated Press The emergence of the new omicron variant and the worlds desperate and likely futile attempts to keep it at bay are reminders of what scientists have warned for months The coronavirus will thrive as long as vast parts of the world lack vaccines. The hoarding of limited COVID19 shots by rich countries creating virtual vaccine deserts in many poorer ones doesnt just mean risk for the parts of the world seeing shortages it threatens the entire globe. Thats because the more the disease spreads among unvaccinated populations the more possibilities it has to mutate and potentially become more dangerous prolonging the pandemic for everyone. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-omicron-variant-inequality-65898ec544463b26ca78ba1e696edf19 29th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

AlJazeera Moderna Inc. is having its best twoday rally in a year after the company said a new vaccine to fight the omicron strain of the coronavirus could be ready by early 2022 if required. The stock soared as much as 14 to the highest level in two months after jumping 21 during Fridays global riskasset selloff to reclaim its place as top performer on the SP 500 yeartodate. The company mobilized hundreds of workers on Thanksgiving Day last Thursday in order to start work on omicron Chief Medical Officer Paul Burton said over the weekend. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/11/29/moderna-says-omicron-vaccine-could-be-ready-by-early-2022 29th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

FiercePharma The efficacy data for Pfizers oral COVID19 drug now look so appealing that the Big Pharma company is boosting manufacturing capacity even before an expected emergency use authorization from the FDA. Pfizer now expects to make 80 million courses of COVID drug Paxlovid by the end of 2022 Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told CNBC during a Monday interview. The company previously said it plans to have capacity to make 50 million courses. https://www.fiercepharma.com/manufacturing/pfizer-boosts-paxlovid-manufacturing-capacity-as-merck-s-rival-covid-pill-sees 29th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

FiercePharma With the new omicron strain fueling fear around the globe that the coronavirus is regaining momentum makers of the worlds most successful vaccines are investigating whether they need to tweak their shots. Over the last few days Moderna PfizerBioNTech Johnson Johnson and AstraZeneca revealed plans to address the threat posed by omicron which emerged in South Africa and recently was detected in Australia Israel Hong Kong and parts of Europe. On Friday the World Health Organization classified omicron as a variant of concern. Each of the companies said its testing an omicronspecific vaccine. Moderna said it could have a tweaked version of its shot ready early next year if necessary. In the case of the delta and beta variants Moderna needed 6090 days to advance new candidates to clinical testing it said in a release. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/companies-reveal-plans-to-deal-omicron-covid-19-variant-including-moderna-most-detail 29th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

STAT News Michele NadeemBaker is steeling herself for another winter. Diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2012 she lives with an impaired immune system that even a third dose of Modernas Covid19 vaccine may not be able to rouse. Living in Boston in November now that the weather has turned cold means an end to backyard dinners and a return to a world narrowed by fear of infection. I am not alone in that feeling said NadeemBaker a patient advocate who also spoke to STAT in June. Everyone is dreading yet another winter in lockdown. Just because there are these third vaccinations it doesnt mean everyone is protected. There is still a part of the population that is not. https://www.statnews.com/2021/11/29/monoclonal-antibodies-covid-protection-cancer-patients-doctors/ 29th Nov 2021

Scientific Viewpoint

STAT News The emergence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus with a suite of mutations that suggests it might be extra transmissible and be able to evade at least some immune protection has the world eager for answers about what it means for the Covid19 pandemic. But so much remains unknown largely because the variant appears to have been detected and publicized so quickly. With other variants a matter of months passed between the time they were first documented until they were designated variants of concern in some cases giving scientists more opportunity to understand them before they attracted widespread attention. With Omicron initially identified as B.1.1.529 it all happened within about two weeks. https://www.statnews.com/2021/11/28/scientists-rapidly-identified-the-omicron-variant-but-firm-answers-about-its-impact-could-take-weeks/ 29th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

CNN The world is in a race against time with the Omicron coronavirus variant said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday warning during a visit to Latvia that scientists and manufacturers will need weeks to fully understand the new variant. As more cases are identified and governments around the world mobilize to respond to Omicron an urgent meeting of G7 health ministers will be convened on Monday the United Kingdom said. It also announced on Sunday new domestic public health rules requiring face coverings in shops and on public transport starting this week. Omicron was first identified by scientists in South Africa who raised alarm over its unusually high number of mutations on Thursday. Since then at least a dozen other countries have confirmed cases of the new strain with several other reporting suspected cases. https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/28/world/coronavirus-omicron-variant-spreading-intl/index.html 29th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters The World Health Organization WHO said on Monday the Omicron coronavirus variant carried a very high risk of infection surges while border closures by more countries cast a shadow over an economic recovery from the twoyear pandemic. Big airlines acted swiftly to protect their hubs by curbing passenger travel from southern Africa where the new Omicron variant was first detected fearing that a spread of the variant would trigger restrictions from other destinations beyond the immediately affected regions industry sources said. https://www.reuters.com/world/spread-omicron-variant-forces-nations-rethink-plans-global-travel-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters South Africas daily COVID19 infection rate could triple to more than 10000 by the end of this week as the new Omicron variant spreads rapidly an infectious disease expert said on Monday. Professor Salim Abdool Karim the governments chief adviser during the initial response to the pandemic also said that while existing vaccines should be effective at preventing severe disease from the variant South African hospitals could be under pressure from a flood of admissions within two to three weeks. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/safrican-expert-says-vaccines-likely-effective-vs-severe-covid-19-variant-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters The first probable case of the Omicron variant of COVID19 has been detected in Switzerland the government said late on Sunday as the country tightened its entry restrictions to check its spread. The case relates to a person who returned to Switzerland from South Africa around a week ago the Federal Office for Public Health said on Twitter. Testing will clarify the situation in the coming days it added. https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/first-suspected-case-omicron-variant-covid-19-detected-switzerland-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Portugal detected 13 cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant on Monday all involving players and staff of top division soccer club Belenenses SAD one of whose players recently returned from South Africa health authority DGS said. The diagnoses were made after the Lisbon club played a Primeira Liga match against Benfica on Saturday that started with only nine Belenenses players on the pitch because of a COVID19 outbreak. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/portugal-detects-13-cases-omicron-covid-19-variant-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Frances Health Ministry said on Sunday it had detected eight possible cases of the Omicron COVID19 variant across the country after the government announced it would tighten restrictions to contain its spread. Omicron is potentially more contagious than previous variants although experts do not know yet if it will cause more or less severe COVID19 compared to other strains. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/omicron-variant-likely-be-circulating-france-health-minister-2021-11-28/ 29th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

Reuters Several leading German politicians called on Sunday for tighter restrictions to contain a surge in coronavirus cases as the infection rate hit a new high and fears about the new Omicron variant rose. After the detection of two Omicron cases in the southern state of Bavaria on Saturday an official in the western state of Hesse said a suspected case in a passenger arriving from South Africa had been confirmed https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-confirms-suspected-omicron-case-bringing-total-three-2021-11-28/ 29th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Associated Press The World Health Organization warned Monday that the global risk from the omicron variant is very high based on early evidence saying the mutated coronavirus could lead to surges with severe consequences. The U.N. health agency in a technical paper issued to member states said considerable uncertainties remain about the variant that was first detected days ago in southern Africa. But it said it is possible the variant has mutations that could enable it to escape an immunesystem response and boost its ability to spread from one person to another. Depending on these characteristics there could be future surges of COVID19 which could have severe consequences depending on a number of factors including where surges may take place it added. The overall global risk ... is assessed as very high. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-omicron-variant-covid-restrictions-82e53a7a17d1a4c30031065d389bda37 29th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

The Associated Press President Joe Biden called the new coronavirus variant omicron a cause for concern but not a cause for panic Monday and said he was not considering any widespread U.S. lockdown. He urged Americans anew to get fully vaccinated including booster shots and return to face masks indoors in public settings to slow any spread. Speaking Monday at the White House Biden said it was inevitable that the new variant would reach the U.S. but he also said the country has the tools necessary to protect Americans particularly the approved vaccines and booster shots. When omicron arrives and it will Biden said America will face this new threat just as weve faced those that have come before it. https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-health-infectious-diseases-anthony-fauci-44fab8b3448ad31f0865aebb26f91741 29th Nov 2021

Coronavirus Resurgence

AlJazeera Japan says it will bar the entry of all foreign visitors from around the world just weeks after a softening of strict entry rules following the emergence of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus. We will ban the new entry of foreigners from around the world starting from November 30 Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters saying the measures would take effect on Tuesday. Over the weekend Japan tightened entry restrictions for people arriving from South Africa and eight other countries in the region requiring them to undergo a 10day quarantine at governmentdesignated facilities. Mondays announcement means Japan will restore border controls it eased earlier this month for shortterm business visitors foreign students and workers. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/29/japan-to-bar-all-foreign-visitors-over-omicron-variant 29th Nov 2021

New Lockdown

Reuters A resurgence of COVID19 infections in northern China have forced two small cities to suspend public transport and tighten control over residents movement as the country has showed no willingness to go easy on local outbreaks. China reported 21 new locally transmitted COVID19 cases with confirmed symptoms on Sunday official data showed on Monday marking the highest daily count since midNovember. Almost all of the new local cases were detected in the northern Chinese region of Inner Mongolia. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/parts-northern-china-tighten-curbs-new-covid-19-flare-ups-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021

New Lockdown

Reuters A couple caught trying to escape from COVID19 quarantine in the Netherlands after testing positive for the coronavirus have been transferred to a hospital where they were being held in isolation an official said on Monday. The pair a Spanish man and Portuguese woman left the hotel where travellers who tested positive for the virus were staying after arriving at Amsterdams Schiphol airport from South Africa. They have now been transferred to a hospital elsewhere in the Netherlands to ensure they are in isolation. They are now in socalled forced isolation said Petra Faber spokesperson for Haarlemmermeer municipality where Schiphol is located just outside of the capital. https://www.reuters.com/world/couple-caught-fleeing-dutch-covid-19-quarantine-moved-forced-isolation-2021-11-29/ 29th Nov 2021