US and other nations tighten Omicron travel rules, EU demands vaccine Reuters

By David Shepardson and John Chalmers

WASHINGTON / PARIS (Reuters) – The US has ordered airlines to hand over the names of passengers in South African countries hit by the Omicron COVID-19 variant and urged other countries to tighten borders when a European leader called on people to “prepare for the worst”. .

Officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) said 24 countries had reported cases of variance so far, but some initial indications were that most were mild and none were severe.

WHO’s regional emergency director, Richard Brenn, urged measures of social exclusion, however, warning of complacency and the fatigue of COVID-19.

The omission of Omicron while scientists determine how easily it can be spread and whether it can prevent vaccine protection is a “race against time,” said the European Union’s executive committee chairman, stressing the role of vaccines.

“Prepare for the worst, wait for the good,” Ursula von der Leyen said at a press conference, adding that scientists say a full vaccine and a booster shot provide the strongest protection possible.

Ghana, Nigeria, Norway, Saudi Arabia and South Korea have been among the last countries to report cases of the variant. Britain has reported 22 cases so far, a number it said would rise.

Australia said at least two people who had visited various places in Sydney were likely to be infected and Denmark said one of the infected people had attended a large concert.

Japan, which has already banned all new foreign entries, reported a second case of the new variant and said it would extend travel restrictions.

As they spread, they become more complicated.

Hong Kong added Japan, Portugal and Sweden to its travel restrictions, and Uzbekistan said it would suspend flights to Hong Kong and South Africa. Malaysia temporarily banned travelers from eight African countries and said Britain and the Netherlands could join the list.

“A general travel ban will not prevent international expansion and place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods,” the WHO said, while advising those who are unwell, at risk or over 60 and not vaccinated to delay travel.

The US, which has banned almost all foreigners staying in one of the eight countries in South Africa, has issued a directive requiring airlines to disclose the names and other information of passengers who have been there.

The directive, issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), went into effect Tuesday night, according to documents viewed by Reuters.

Global stocks fell sharply on Tuesday, following the CEO’s remarks Modern (NASDAQ 🙂 It raised questions about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against Omicron. [MKTS/GLOB]

WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said the organization believed that COVID-19 vaccines would protect against serious diseases.

Kate Bingham, the former head of the UK’s COVID-19 Vaccine Group, which received millions of doses for the country, said scientists needed to know within a week whether existing plans were effective against the Omicron variant.

The CEO of BioNTech said the vaccine is done in collaboration Pfizer (NYSE 🙂 is likely to provide strong protection against serious illnesses at Omicron. The European Union brought forward by one week the start of the opening of the vaccine for children aged five to 11 until 13 December.

The United Kingdom and the United States have both expanded their promotional programs in response to the new variant, highlighting the difference between massive vaccination efforts in rich nations and poor vaccination in the developing world.

The WHO said about 56 countries had been implementing travel measures to protect them against Omicron since 28 November.

WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said they were concerned about “drastic and drastic measures”, which “will only exacerbate inequalities”.

(GRAPHIC: OMICRON VARIATION MAP – https://graphics.reuters.com/USA-VARIANT/zdvxonlxxpx/Omicron.jpg)

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION

In Germany, which is battling the rise in COVID-19 infections and deaths, officials said four people who were fully vaccinated had a positive Omicron in the south but had moderate symptoms.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it was asking the U.S. to show all passengers who enter the country the departure and show a negative COVID-19 test within a day. The new one-day test requirement will apply to both U.S. citizens and foreigners.

The CDC lists about 80 foreign destinations as having “Four Levels,” the highest level of COVID-19 transmission, and recommends that Americans travel to those destinations.

In Asia, Japan said it would extend the entry ban to foreigners with resident status in 10 African countries.

Worldwide airlines are preparing for more volatility.

Japanese airlines ANA and JAL said they were suspending new bookings for international flights to the country until the end of December.

“I think we’re back to where we were a year ago and that’s not a great opportunity for the industry and beyond,” Deidre Fulton, MIDAS Aviation consulting partner, said at an industry webinar.