The New York Times
@nytimes
Countries around the world moved to restrict travel from southern Africa on Friday in a frantic effort to keep a newly identified, and apparently significantly evolved, variant of the coronavirus from crossing their borders.
Earlier on Friday, the European Commission proposed that its member countries activate the “emergency brake” on travel from countries in southern Africa and other countries affected to limit the spread of the new variant.
The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution met today to review what is known about the #COVID19 variant B.1.1.529.
They advised WHO that it should be designated a Variant of Concern.
WHO has named it Omicron, in line with naming protocols https://t.co/bSbVas9yds pic.twitter.com/Gev1zIt1Ek— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) November 26, 2021
Source: WHO on Twitter, 26/11/2021
The epidemiological picture suggests that this variant may be more transmissible, and several mutations are consistent with enhanced transmissibility.
Some of the variant’s mutations have also been associated with immune evasion, suggesting that existing vaccines may be less effective against it.
But the evidence is not yet clear. Studies are being conducted in South Africa, but will take several weeks to complete.
One flight from South Africa to the Netherlands on Friday was caught by the travel ban in the midst of its flight.
After the flight landed in Amsterdam, its passengers were required to remain on board the plane for several hours, and then were taken off to be tested for the virus.
WHO: “It will take a few weeks for us to understand what impact this variant has”.
Last Updated on 26.11.2021 by iskova