Covid news live: WHO advises vulnerable or unvaccinated against travel over Omicron | World news

A northern Chinese language metropolis bordering Russia has halted rail imports together with coal and timber on Wednesday over fears of a contemporary cluster of Covid-19 infections.

Well being authorities reported 91 new instances in or near Manzhouli – a metropolis of 231,000 in Interior Mongolia that handles greater than 65% of China-Russia commerce – after seeing dozens in current days, forcing leaders to impose localised lockdowns and journey restrictions.

All the 91 native symptomatic instances have been reported within the area and marks the very best day by day rely since 2 November, knowledge from the Nationwide Well being Fee confirmed. It’s also a big soar from 21 instances a day earlier.

The purpose is to “strengthen prevention and management” of the outbreak at ports and “successfully block the unfold of abroad epidemics by way of imported items”, the discover added.

Japan is about to broaden its journey ban on foreigners getting into the nation even additional, stopping these with resident standing from ten African nations together with South Africa from getting into the nation “in the intervening time.”

The brand new guidelines will apply to overseas residents from South Africa, Eswatini, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, Angola, Botswana and Zimbabwe. The border closing will probably be in impact for no less than a month.

“From the view of prevention, we gained’t simply limit new entry by foreigners but additionally returning foreigners with resident standing, until there are particular extenuating circumstances,” chief cupboard secretary Hirokazu Matsuno advised a information convention.

“We’ll keep a way of urgency and hold monitor of the state of affairs in numerous nations to have the ability to reply shortly and flexibly.”

On Monday, Japan closed its borders to all newly getting into foreigners in gentle of the emergence of the Omicron variant. On Tuesday, Japan’s first Omicron case was found.

Germany is reporting a day by day rise of 67,186 Covid instances and 446 deaths, in accordance with knowledge from the Robert Koch Institute of public well being.

The figures deliver the nationwide tally to five,903,999 confirmed coronavirus instances and 101,790 deaths.

Three individuals who escaped an Australian Covid quarantine facility have been arrested.

Our reporter Cait Kelly from Melbourne, Australia, has the story.

Northern Territory Police arrested the trio who escaped from Darwin’s Howard Springs Covid-19 facility on Wednesday morning.

All three examined detrimental for Covid and have been taken into custody.

Earlier, police mentioned the trio allegedly jumped the fence on the Centre for Nationwide Resilience simply earlier than 4.40am.

“Police and workers on the Centre for Nationwide Resilience are presently confirming the absconder’s identities previous to releasing additional data,” police mentioned.

Learn the complete story right here.

Hong Kong will ban non-residents from getting into town from Japan, Portugal and Sweden from Friday because of issues over the Omicron variant.

Non-Hong Kong residents who’ve been within the three nations prior to now 21 days is not going to be allowed to enter the worldwide monetary hub. Residents can solely board flights if absolutely vaccinated and must endure 21-days of quarantine in a resort at their very own price.

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) confirmed late Tuesday it’s working to impose stricter Covid-19 testing guidelines for air travellers getting into the United States amid issues a couple of new Covid-19 variant, Reuters studies.

The CDC confirmed in a press release it’s working to revise its present International Testing Order “for journey as we study extra in regards to the Omicron variant; a revised order would shorten the timeline for required testing for all worldwide air travellers to sooner or later earlier than departure to the US.”

Efficient from immediately, vaccination will probably be required for journey inside and out of Canada.

A legitimate Covid-19 molecular check will not be accepted as a substitute for vaccination until travellers are eligible for one of many restricted exemptions, resembling a medical incapability to be vaccinated.

As of 15 January, sure teams of travellers, who’re presently exempt from entry necessities, will solely be allowed to enter the nation if they’re absolutely vaccinated with one of many vaccines permitted for entry into Canada.

These teams embody people travelling to reunite with household (unvaccinated youngsters below 18 years of age will retain exemption if travelling to reunite with a direct or prolonged member of the family who’s a Canadian, everlasting resident, or individual registered below the Indian Act); worldwide college students who’re 18 years outdated and older; skilled and beginner athletes; people with a legitimate work allow, together with non permanent overseas staff (outdoors of these in agriculture and meals processing); and important service suppliers, together with truck drivers.

After 15 January, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated overseas nationals will solely be allowed to enter Canada in the event that they meet the standards for restricted exceptions, the federal government of Canada mentioned in a press release.

Singapore has introduced it’s going to require necessary PCR testing for all travellers and extra antigen fast checks for travellers on vaccinated journey lanes.

“To step up detection and containment of the Omicron variant till extra data is obtainable, we’ll improve our testing protocols for travellers arriving in Singapore after 2 December 2021, 2359 hours (Singapore time). These enhanced measures will apply for 4 weeks within the first occasion, and will probably be reviewed and prolonged if essential,” the ministry of well being mentioned in a press release.

All travellers getting into or transiting by way of Singapore, after 2 December, should endure a pre-departure check inside 2 days of their departure for Singapore and acquire a detrimental end result. All travellers getting into Singapore should endure a Covid-19 PCR check on-arrival.

These with confirmed instances or suspected instances of Covid-19 will not be capable of endure house restoration and might want to endure quarantine on the Nationwide Centre for Infectious Illnesses.

The US would require stricter coronavirus testing is about to be required for all travellers, together with returning People, getting into the nation amid Omicron variant issues.

The Biden administration is predicted to take steps within the coming days to toughen testing necessities for worldwide travellers to the US, together with each vaccinated and unvaccinated folks, the Related Press studies.

The transfer is a part of an enhanced winter Covid technique Biden plans to announce on Thursday, the publication added.

US officers would require everybody getting into the nation to be examined sooner or later earlier than boarding flights, no matter their vaccination standing or nation of departure. Administration officers are additionally contemplating a requirement that every one travellers get retested inside three to 5 days of arrival. At the moment those that are absolutely vaccinated could current a check taken inside three days of boarding.

Authorities are reportedly debating a controversial proposal to require all travellers, together with US residents, to self-quarantine for seven days, even when their check outcomes are detrimental.

“CDC is evaluating make worldwide journey as secure as potential, together with pre-departure testing nearer to the time of flight and issues round further post-arrival testing and self-quarantines,” Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention Director Dr Rochelle Walensky mentioned on Tuesday.

South Korea has reported a brand new day by day file of 5,123 new Covid instances for Tuesday, the Korea Illness Management and Prevention Company (KDCA) mentioned immediately.

On Monday, the federal government shelved plans to additional loosen up Covid-19 curbs as a result of pressure on its healthcare system from rising hospitalisations and deaths in addition to the menace posed by the brand new variant.

The nation is presently battling to include a pointy rise in sufferers with extreme Covid signs.

The World Well being Group has issued a brand new journey warning to these eager about heading overseas this vacation season.

Covid-vulnerable folks, together with the over-60s, ought to postpone plans to journey, the WHO mentioned in a press release on Tuesday as greater than 50 nations rush to implement journey measures geared toward delaying the unfold of the brand new Omicron variant.

“Individuals who’re unwell, or who haven’t been absolutely vaccinated or should not have proof of earlier SARS-CoV-2 an infection and are at elevated danger of growing extreme illness and dying, together with folks 60 years of age or older or these with comorbidities that current elevated danger of extreme COVID-19 (e.g. coronary heart illness, most cancers and diabetes) must be suggested to postpone journey to areas with group transmission,” the WHO suggested.

Hi there and welcome to our stay protection of the coronavirus outbreak.

I’m Samantha Lock and I’ll be providing you with a rundown of the most recent updates as they occur.

The World Well being Group has issued a brand new journey warning to these eager about heading overseas in the course of the vacation season.

Covid-vulnerable folks, together with the over-60s, ought to postpone plans to journey, the WHO mentioned in a press release on Tuesday as greater than 50 nations implement journey measures geared toward probably delaying the importation of the brand new variant.

“Individuals who’re unwell or prone to growing extreme Covid-19 illness and dying, together with folks 60 years of age or older or these with co-morbidities (e.g. coronary heart illness, most cancers and diabetes), must be suggested to postpone journey,” mentioned the WHO.

Greece has turn into the most recent European nation to take a strict new stand in opposition to those that are unvaccinated by imposing a €100 per 30 days advantageous for folks over the age of 60 who haven’t obtained their first Covid-19 shot. The measures are set to take impact from 16 January.

Right here’s a abstract of all the important thing developments up to now:

• Stricter coronavirus testing is about to be required for all travellers to the US amid Omicron variant issues, the Washington Publish studies.
• All eligible adults within the UK must be provided a Covid booster jab by the top of January, British prime minister Boris Johnson introduced.
• The Omicron variant was current in Europe no less than 10 days in the past, in accordance with well being authorities within the Netherlands.
• Austria extends lockdown to twenty days after lawmakers voted to increase a nationwide lockdown by 10 days on Tuesday, bringing the overall lockdown ending on 11 December to twenty days.
• Germany’s constitutional court docket has dominated that sweeping restrictions to stem Covid infections resembling curfews, college closures and speak to restrictions have been lawful, in a choice that would pave the best way for additional curbs.
• Greece has mentioned it’s going to advantageous folks over the age of 60 who haven’t obtained a primary Covid-19 shot €100 per 30 days from 16 January.
• All travellers getting into Eire will now have to indicate detrimental Covid checks.
• An knowledgeable committee voted to suggest the US Meals and Drug Administration authorise Merck’s Covid tablet for high-risk adults, the primary of a brand new class of antiviral drug that would deal with Omicron and different variants.The drug, molnupiravir, is more likely to be permitted for older and extra weak folks at larger danger of extreme sickness.
• Brazil studies first Omicron instances in Latin America after detecting two instances of the Omicron Covid pressure on Tuesday, the nation’s well being regulator, Anvisa, mentioned.
• Slovenia has halted use of Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine after consultants confirmed a dying in September was associated to an especially uncommon blood-clotting situation.
• Poland data highest Covid deaths since April with 526 deaths prior to now 24 hours.
• Israel’s well being minister says boosters could defend in opposition to Omicron.
• The US Meals & Drug Administration says it’s evaluating the effectiveness of authorised Covid vaccines in opposition to the Omicron variant and expects to have extra data within the subsequent few weeks.
• Japan confirmed its first case of the Omicron variant. A Namibian diplomat in his 30s is assumed to have examined optimistic for the variant.