Japan expands travel ban to halt spread of omicron coronavirus variant

BRASILIA/TOKYO: Japan has expanded its journey ban on foreigners coming into the nation, stopping entry to these with resident standing from 10 southern African nations.

Two Japanese airways ANA and JAL additionally mentioned they had been suspending new reservations for worldwide flights to Japan till the top of December and NHK public tv mentioned the federal government was searching for a halt to all such reservations.

Japan took among the strictest steps globally on Monday by closing its borders to non-Japanese for a few month in gentle of the emergence of omicron. A day later, Japan’s first omicron case – in a Namibian diplomat – was found.

Japanese media additionally reported on Wednesday {that a} second case of the omicron virus had been confirmed in a traveller. NHK mentioned it was a international man and FNN tv mentioned it was a traveller from Peru.

The border closing affecting residents of southern African states will probably be in impact from midnight on Wednesday for at the very least a month. It applies to international residents from South Africa, Eswatini, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, Angola, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Brazil and Nigeria additionally joined the quickly widening circle of nations to report instances of the omicron variant Tuesday, whereas new findings point out the mutant coronavirus was already in Europe near every week earlier than South Africa sounded the alarm.

The Netherlands’ RIVM well being institute disclosed that affected person samples courting from Nov. 19 and 23 had been discovered to include the variant. It was on Nov. 24 that South African authorities reported the existence of the extremely mutated virus to the World Well being Group.

A lot stays unknown in regards to the new variant, together with whether or not it’s extra contagious, as some well being authorities suspect, whether or not it makes folks extra critically sick, and whether or not it could thwart the vaccine.

The pandemic has proven repeatedly that the virus “travels shortly due to our globalized, interconnected world,” mentioned Dr. Albert Ko, an infectious illness specialist on the Yale College of Public Well being. Till the vaccination drive reaches each nation, “we’re going to be on this scenario many times.”

Brazil, which has recorded a staggering complete of greater than 600,000 COVID-19 deaths, reported discovering the variant in two vacationers getting back from South Africa — the primary identified omicron instances in Latin America. The vacationers had been examined on Nov. 25, authorities mentioned.

France likewise recorded its first case, within the far-flung island territory of Reunion within the Indian Ocean. Authorities mentioned the affected person was a person who had returned to Reunion from South Africa and Mozambique on Nov. 20.

It has determined to increase till at the very least Saturday its suspension of flights from southern African international locations which have been hit onerous by the omicron variant.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US’ prime infectious illness knowledgeable, mentioned rather more will probably be identified about omicron within the subsequent a number of weeks, and “we’ll have a a lot better image of what the problem is forward of us.”

Within the meantime, a WHO official warned that given the rising variety of omicron instances in South Africa and neighboring Botswana, elements of southern Africa might quickly see infections skyrocket.

“There’s a risk that actually we’re going to be seeing a severe doubling or tripling of the instances as we transfer alongside or because the week unfolds,” mentioned Dr. Nicksy Gumede-Moeletsi, a WHO regional virologist.

Circumstances started to extend quickly in mid-November in South Africa, which is now seeing practically 3,000 confirmed new infections per day.

Earlier than information of the Brazil instances broke, Fauci mentioned 226 omicron instances had been confirmed in 20 international locations, including: “I feel you’re going to count on to see these numbers change quickly.”

These international locations embrace Britain, 11 European Union nations, Australia, Canada and Israel. American illness trackers mentioned omicron might already be within the US, too, and possibly will probably be detected quickly.

“I’m anticipating it any day now,” mentioned Scott Becker of the Affiliation of Public Well being Laboratories. “We count on it’s right here.”

Whereas the variant was first recognized by South African researchers, it’s unclear the place and when it originated, info that might assist make clear how briskly it spreads.

The announcement from the Dutch on Tuesday might form that timeline.

Beforehand, the Netherlands mentioned it discovered the variant amongst passengers who got here from South Africa on Friday, the identical day the Dutch and different EU members started imposing flight bans and different restrictions on southern Africa. However the newly recognized instances predate that.

NOS, the Netherlands’ public broadcaster, mentioned that one of many two omicron samples got here from an individual who had been in southern Africa.

Belgium reported a case involving a traveler who returned to the nation from Egypt on Nov. 11 however didn’t change into sick with delicate signs till Nov. 22.

Many well being officers tried to calm fears, insisting that vaccines stay one of the best protection and that the world should redouble its efforts to get the photographs to each a part of the globe.

Emer Cooke, chief of the European Medicines Company, mentioned that the 27-nation EU is nicely ready for the variant and that the vaccine might be tailored to be used towards omicron inside three or 4 months if needed.

England reacted to the rising menace by making face coverings obligatory once more on public transportation and in shops, banks and hair salons. And one month forward of Christmas, the top of Britain’s Well being Safety Company urged folks to not socialize in the event that they don’t have to.

After COVID-19 led to a one-year postponement of the Summer time Video games, Olympic organizers started to fret in regards to the February Winter Video games in Beijing. Chinese language Overseas Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian mentioned omicron would “definitely carry some challenges when it comes to prevention and management.”

World markets seesawed on every bit of medical information, whether or not worrisome or reassuring. Shares fell on Wall Avenue over virus fears in addition to issues in regards to the Federal Reserve’s continued efforts to shore up the markets.

Some analysts assume a severe financial downturn will most likely be averted as a result of many individuals have been vaccinated. However in addition they assume a return to pre-pandemic ranges of financial exercise, particularly in tourism, has been dramatically delayed.