The United Kingdom, Iceland and the Netherlands report infections with the new Omicron variant in people who have not recently gone abroad, indicating that the virus is already spreading locally in Europe. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control pointed out that the new South African variant could account for half of the infections on the European continent in a matter of months.
Europe begins to detect cases of Omicron by local circulation of the virus. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warned that “in a few months” more than half of the infections throughout the continent will correspond to cases of the new South African variant.
“According to the mathematical model carried out by the ECDC, there are indications that Ómicron could cause more than half of all SARS-CoV-2 infections in the European Union in the coming months,” stressed the public health agency of the community bloc .
The omicron variant is spreading so quickly that it could account for more than half of Covid-19 cases in Europe in a few months, according to a major European health agency https://t.co/F1jWU00YnN
– Bloomberg (@business) December 2, 2021
Although there is still no conclusive evidence on the level of transmissibility of this variant, something that according to the WHO will be known in the coming days, the information indicated by the ECDC would give weight to the preliminary information that Ómicron could surpass Delta in contagion speed .
In recent days, several European nations began to detect cases of Omicron in people arriving at airports from nations in southern Africa. However, now, the authorities report locally transmitted infections.
Ómicron already causes infections by local transmission in Europe
In England, the authorities reported this December 2 on a case of Ómicron not related to travel, Iceland registered the same situation in a man who had not gone abroad recently. This is a fully vaccinated adult who even received a booster dose, according to the medical director of the Icelandic National University Hospital, Mar Kristjansson.
The doctor clarified that the infected person is isolated and does not present serious symptoms, which would indicate a high protection as a result of the vaccines he received.
For its part, Norway recorded the third case of the new South African variant in people who recently attended a Christmas party in Oslo. The authorities indicated that they expect new infections of this type.
In the Netherlands, on November 30, the National Institute of Public Health (RIVM) noted that the new variant is already spreading within the nation. The health authority explained that Sars-Cov-2 B.1.1.529 appeared in diagnostic tests in the Dutch territory, at least 11 days before the world knew about the first case, detected in South Africa.
Meanwhile, other nations continue to report their first detections of the variant in people from abroad. France, which reported the first two infections in the continental part of its territory, by two citizens who entered from South Africa and Nigeria.
Last Tuesday, November 30, the Government reported a contagion on the French island of Reunion, located in the Indian Ocean.
The main scientific advisor to the Emmanuel Macron Administration, Jean-Francois Delfraissy, assured that Ómicron could become the dominant variant in the country by the end of January.
“We should see a progressive increase in the Omicron variant, which will replace Delta,” possibly at the end of January (…) Christmas is not at risk if the population and those who make decisions are very cautious, “said the president of the scientific council. , who also reiterated that social distancing and a third immunization injection will be key to mitigating the severity of the disease.
How are the restrictions for Omicron going?
As new cases of the variant appear, whether detected in people arriving from abroad or by local transmission, different nations have set off their alarms and imposed restrictions in recent days.
Among the most recent decisions disclosed is USA that as of next Monday, December 6, it will require diagnostic tests with negative results from all travelers arriving in its territory, including those vaccinated. The test must be taken 24 hours before taking the flight.
“This stricter time frame for all travelers provides an additional degree of public health protection as scientists continue to evaluate the Omicron variant,” said a senior US official quoted by EFE, who preferred to remain anonymous.
Federal health officials are expanding a program at key US airports that offers free coronavirus testing, part of stepped-up efforts to monitor international arrivals amid growing concerns about the omicron variant. https://t.co/qXIyIX10gO
– The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 2, 2021
On Germany, The federal government is evaluating with regional leaders restricting access to unvaccinated people to all businesses, except those considered essential, such as grocery stores and pharmacies.
In the meantime, Russia has imposed a two-week quarantine on travelers from some African countries, including South Africa, Interfax news agency reported, citing a senior official.
On Canada, airline industry groups warned that a plan to require Covid-19 testing for all international flight arrivals except the United States risked causing “chaos” and long lines if passengers were expected to be tested. at airports.
Meanwhile, Japan He reversed the decision to ban all new flight bookings to his country until the end of December, just one day after announcing it.
However, Prime Minister Fumio Kishidaeste said Thursday that he asked the Ministry of Transportation for the “review” of that measure to take into account “requests to be able to return to the country of Japanese citizens who are abroad.” He admitted that the restriction “had caused confusion,” in statements to the media.
On the European Union, last week its member countries banned all flights from southern Africa en bloc.
Amid all the new restrictions, Europe’s largest low-cost carrier Ryanair said it expects a difficult time for the business around Christmas, although it is still optimistic about demand for next summer.
With Reuters, AP and EFE
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