The World Health Organization has categorized a new COVID-19 strain detected in South Africa as a strain of concern. Dr Peter Singer, WHO’s special adviser to the director-general, tells Power & Politics that keeping Canadians safe requires improving vaccination rates throughout the world, so the virus doesn’t develop.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has labelled the new variant as Omicron, which seems to be “of concern.”
According to the WHO, it had many mutations, and early research revealed an increased risk of reinfection. It was originally reported to the WHO on November 24th from South Africa and has since been found in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong, and Israel.
Several nations have opted to prohibit or limit travel to and from southern Africa. The WHO reported on Friday that the number of cases of this strain, labelled earlier as B.1.1.529, looked to be rising in practically all of South Africa’s provinces. Travellers from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini will not enter the U.K. unless they are British or Irish citizens or U.K. residents.
According to U.S. authorities, flights from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi will be restricted, replicating previous U.S. actions. Starting Monday, it will take effect. Flights across other southern African nations have also been temporarily banned by E.U. countries and Switzerland.
A virus’s ability to adapt or evolve is frequent. When a viral variation affects factors like transmissibility, pathogenicity, or vaccination efficacy, it becomes a variant of concern.
Source: BBC News
