According to a White House statement, the United States will need about two more weeks for more accurate information on the transmissibility and severity of the omicron variant.
This variant appeared in South Africa last week, and has since been identified in nation worldwide, including France, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong.
The United States will Travel restrictions from South Africa and several other countries due to omicron, just weeks after the country reopened to international tourists.
Dr Angelique Coetzee, president of the South African Medical Association, told Reuters that symptoms caused by omicrons are “very mild” and can be treated at home. However, the initial reported infections were among university students – younger people tend to have relatively mild symptoms, according to the World Health Organization.
“There is currently no information to suggest that omicron-associated symptoms differ from those from other variants,” the WHO said in a statement released Sunday.
Although omicrons are not well known, Fauci told Biden he believes “existing vaccines have the potential to provide some degree of protection against severe cases of COVID”, while reiterating that booster shots along with full immunization will provide stronger protection.
About 36% of Americans have received booster shots, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zient said last week.
– Celina Tebor, USA TODAY
Also in the news:
►The World Health Organization urges countries not to impose flight bans on South African countries due to concerns about the new omicron variant.
► U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra met with South Africa’s Minister of Health, Mathumr Joseph Phaahla, on Sunday to discuss the emerging COVID-19 omicron variant.
📈Today’s Number: The United States has recorded more than 48 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 776,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Global total: More than 261 million cases and nearly 5.1 million deaths. More than 196 million Americans – about 59.1% of the population – are fully immunized, According to CDC.
📘What we are reading: After nearly two years of fighting COVID-19, health experts say the US will be more beneficial in controlling the pandemic. Instead, many people remain unvaccinated and ignore mitigation measures, Slows progression and burns healthcare professionals.
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WHO gathers in special session to discuss new rules for outbreaks
The World Health Organization’s General Assembly will meet in a special session starting Monday to discuss a single topic: A new global pact to respond to pandemics. Future.
The session will aim to establish an “intergovernmental process for drafting and negotiating a convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic preparedness and response,” according to a news report from the organization.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, tell NPR that the international response to the current COVID-19 pandemic has been slow and uncoordinated.
“Everybody has seen how disorganized we really are and all have seen the failures of the global system,” says Tedros.
The special session is the second in WHO’s history, and will run until Wednesday.
– Celina Tebor, USA TODAY
Omicron variant identified in more countries globally
Cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus emerged in countries facing the world on Sunday, and many governments rushed to close their borders.
Israel decided to ban entry of foreigners and Morocco said it would suspend all incoming flights for two weeks starting Monday – in one of the most drastic actions taken by countries around the world. impose more and more travel curbs as they try to slow the spread of the variant. Scientists in several places – from Hong Kong to Europe – have confirmed its presence.
The Dutch public health authority confirmed that 13 people arriving from South Africa on Friday have so far tested positive for omicrons. They were among 61 people who tested positive for the virus after arriving on the last two flights to Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport before the flight ban was implemented.
Canada’s health minister said the country’s first two cases of omicrons were found in Ontario after two people who recently traveled from Nigeria tested positive.
Australian authorities say two visitors to Sydney from Africa have become the first in the country to test positive for the new variant. Guests arriving from nine African countries are now required to isolate in hotels upon arrival. Two German states reported a total of three cases of returning travelers over the weekend.
– Relevant press
Contribution: Associated Press
