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New Delhi: The UK on Saturday detected two circumstances of the brand new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, well being secretary Sajid Javid knowledgeable as he added 4 extra African international locations to Britain’s journey crimson listing.
The sufferers have been detected in Chelmsford and Nottingham, Sajid Javid stated.
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As per the well being secretary, the circumstances are linked and the 2 persons are self-isolating alongside their households as additional assessments and call tracing happen.
He took to Twitter and wrote: “We have now been made conscious by @UKHSA of two UK circumstances of the Omicron variant. The 2 circumstances are linked and there’s a reference to journey to southern Africa. These people are self-isolating with their households whereas additional testing and call tracing is underway”.
In one other tweet, it was knowledgeable that, as a precaution, extra focused testing has been rolled out within the affected areas – Nottingham and Chelmsford – together with sequencing of all constructive circumstances.
It is a fast-moving scenario and we’re taking decisive steps to guard public well being, Sajid Javid assured.
As a precaution we’re rolling out extra focused testing within the affected areas – Nottingham and Chelmsford – and sequencing all constructive circumstances.
It is a fast-moving scenario and we’re taking decisive steps to guard public well being.
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) November 27, 2021
Earlier, Omicron, the brand new variant, was recognized in South Africa, Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong, and Israel.
The UK had on Friday positioned South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini on the Crimson Checklist.
In his announcement on Saturday, well being secretary Javid knowledgeable that Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia are being added to that listing.
“We’re additionally including Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Angola to the journey crimson listing – efficient from 4 am Sunday. In case you have returned from there within the final 10 days you have to isolate and get PCR assessments. And in case you are eligible on your booster jab – now’s the time to get it,” Javid knowledgeable.
Omicron COVID Variant Leads To Renewed Journey Restrictions
The brand new and doubtlessly extra contagious B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to the World Well being Group (WHO) from South Africa on November 24, and has additionally been recognized in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong, and Israel.
On Friday, it was named Omicron and designated as a Variant of Concern by the WHO.
A variant of concern is the WHO’s high class of worrying COVID-19 variants.
The variant is reported to have a excessive variety of mutations, about 50 general. Importantly, as South African genomic scientists knowledgeable on Thursday, greater than 30 of the mutations have been discovered within the spike protein — the construction the virus makes use of to get into the cells they assault.
The brand new variant changing into a reason for alarm has led to international locations all over the world introducing journey bans and restrictions on southern African international locations in an effort to include Omicron’s unfold.
The USA has from Monday restricted journey from South Africa and 7 different international locations within the southern Africa area.
European international locations together with the UK have banned journey to and from South Africa and neighbouring international locations of Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana, in addition to Lesotho and Eswatini (previously Swaziland), each of that are landlocked inside South Africa.
Different international locations embody Mauritius, Israel, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands.
Many different international locations have indicated that solely their very own residents could be allowed again, topic to a quarantine interval.
In the meantime, the Indian authorities has requested all states and union territories to conduct rigorous screening and testing of all worldwide travellers coming from or transiting by means of South Africa, Hong Kong, and Botswana.
(With Company Inputs)
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