Omicron variant scares the world, doors closed to travel from South Africa
The pandemic is not yet defeated, one must always remember that things can change literally overnight. And [...]
The pandemic is not yet defeated; one must always remember that things can change literally overnight. And that is what is happening these days with the Omicron variant, better known as the South African variant.
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Within 24 hours, the world closed its borders to travelers from South Africa and from eight other African nations, all while the planes had already taken off, with travelers bound for the nations involved finding it difficult to return home, and being subjected to strict security protocols. While other travelers headed in the opposite direction upon their arrival were taken through strict security protocols to preemptive isolation facilities.
What is happening in the world
South Africa first reported the new sequence. detected by its own controls. This monitoring activity, however, according to the African country's government, has turned into a boomerang for the nation, which is now being fingered as the new source of danger and isolated from the rest of the world.
At the moment it is too early to know the level of danger of this yet another variant, but governments around the world are taking no chances. So from Europe to the United States, from Thailand to Israel, those who had opened the doors immediately closed them for all passengers who over the past 14 days have transited in addition to South Africa. also by Malawi, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and eSwatini.
But not only that, some nations have also made much sharper decisions. Israel, for example, Has issued a total ban on foreign arrivals for the next 14 days, a ban that applies to everyone unless they receive special permission. It will also impose a molecular test and three days of quarantine on its vaccinated citizens. Note how the reopening had taken place only in recent weeks.
On two flights operated by KLM as many as 10% of passengers. tested positive for the new variant, Omicron has already arrived everywhere from Australia, which still has its borders closed to almost all passengers from Italy to Hong Kong to the United States.
