The organization advised people at risk of severe illness or death if they contract the infection, including those over the age of 60, not to travel to areas experiencing community transmission of the virus.
“People who have not been fully vaccinated, or who have no evidence that they have previously been infected with SARS-Cove-2, and who are at high risk of severe disease and death,” WHO said in an update to its travel guidance under Omicron. Including those aged 60 and over and those with comorbidities that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 (such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes), should be advised to postpone their travel to areas with community transmission.”
The guidance bulletin indicated that as of November 28, 56 countries have established travel procedures aimed at delaying the entry of the new transgenic into them.
But the organization considered that “a general travel ban will not prevent the spread of the mutant worldwide, and it places a heavy burden on life and livelihoods.”
She added that such decisions “could negatively impact global health efforts during a pandemic by discouraging countries from reporting and sharing epidemiological data.”
The organization called on all travelers to be vigilant, vaccinate and follow public health rules, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or not, especially by using protective masks and adhering to physical distancing measures, and avoiding crowded and poorly ventilated places.
As it did repeatedly at the beginning of the pandemic, WHO reminded that “essential international travel – including humanitarian and emergency travel, repatriation flights and the shipment of essential goods – must remain a priority.”
Several countries have taken decisions banning flights, especially those coming from South Africa and neighboring countries, where the new mutant was detected for the first time.
The World Health Organization’s regional office in Africa called on Sunday to “keep the borders open” after South Africa appealed to the international community to “immediately and urgently lift” travel restrictions imposed on it after the detection of the mutant “Omicron”.
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