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New Delhi: The brand new coronavirus variant B.1.1529, named as ‘Omicron’ has been designated as a variant of concern by the World Well being Organisation. The variant which was first found in South Africa has been reported to unfold to numerous international locations like Botswana, Israel, Hong Kong, and Belgium.
The WHO on Friday mentioned that this new variant could also be extra transmissible than different kinds and preliminary proof have steered that there’s an elevated threat of reinfection.
Many international locations have shut their borders for travellers coming from South Africa and inventory markets skilled a downward development.
The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution met at this time to evaluate what is thought in regards to the #COVID19 variant B.1.1.529.
They suggested WHO that it needs to be designated a Variant of Concern.
WHO has named it Omicron, in keeping with naming protocols https://t.co/bSbVas9yds pic.twitter.com/Gev1zIt1Ek
— World Well being Group (WHO) (@WHO) November 26, 2021
Halting of flights
As reported by Reuters, the US will impose a journey ban from South Africa and neighbouring international locations from Monday.
Canada has already put an entry restriction for individuals coming from seven international locations which embrace Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, reported AFP.
India has additionally tightened norms for travellers coming from 12 international locations. These international locations embrace South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Israel, Hong Kong, and the UK. Travellers coming from these international locations will bear extra measures upon arriving in India together with post-arrival testing for the an infection, as reported by ANI.
A number of different international locations like Japan, Israel, Turkey, Switzerland and United Arab Emirates have additionally imposed stricter journey curbs.
ALSO READ: New Covid-19 Pressure ‘Omicron’, Discovered In Africa Is A ‘Variant Of Concern’ Says WHO
Plunging markets
A way of panic ran throughout the monetary markets as the brand new variant set its foot. As reported by Reuters the Dow Jones Industrial Common closed down at 2.5 %. It was recorded because the worst day since late October 2020. European shares too had the worst day within the final 17 months.
The oil shares too tumbled by $10 per barrel.
Cruise operators like Carnival Corp, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line went down by greater than 10 % every. Shares of plane firms like United Airways, Delta Airways, and American Airways additionally plunged by virtually the identical determine.
‘Borders Closed’
Whereas international locations are closing their borders, consultants say that it may be too late now for this motion. Ben Cowling, an Epidemiologist from the College of Hong Kong mentioned, “Most probably the virus is already in different places. And so if we shut the door now, it’s going to be in all probability too late.”
WHO’s emergencies director Mike Ryan additionally mentioned “it’s actually necessary that there aren’t any knee-jerk responses.”
There are consultants who’ve expressed their frustration over closing borders because the announcement of Omicron variant was made. Richard Lessels who’s a South Africa based mostly infectious illness knowledgeable mentioned that the main focus needs to be growing the vaccination numbers the place individuals haven’t acquired ample pictures.
“Because of this we talked in regards to the threat of vaccine apartheid. This virus can evolve within the absence of sufficient ranges of vaccination,” he mentioned.
The report said that based on medical and human rights teams, whereas developed nations have began administering third booster pictures, solely 7 % of the inhabitants within the low earnings international locations has been inoculated with first dose of Covid-19 vaccine.
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