Omicron Variant: Govt Directs States to Increase Surveillance, Vaccination
COVID-19 Omicron Variant Live News Updates: Israel Closes Its Borders to All Foreigners
advertisement
The COVID-19 Omicron variant, which has sparked global concern of being a potentially more contagious variant, has led to several European nations setting up restrictions overnight.
On Saturday, 27 November, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had said that Israel will, after government approval, ban the entry of all foreigners into the country for 14 days in response to the new COVID variant.
On Sunday, citing an official, news agency AFP reported that Israel has closed its border to all foreigners.
The variant has already been detected in Belgium, Botswana, Hong Kong, Britain, and Israel, sparking global concern.
The World Health Organization on 26 November, had named the B.1.1.529 strain of COVID-19 Omicron, after the fifteenth letter of the Greek alphabet.
Meanwhile, the United Nations' health body has warned that the variant has a large number of mutations.
Britain, Germany, and Italy detected cases on new COVID-19 Omicron variant on Saturday, 27 November.
Two Omicron cases were detected in Australia on Sunday.
WHO has asked countries in South-East Asia Region to be vigilant as cases surge globally.
Dutch health authorities say that the new 'Omicron' strain of COVID-19 was "probably" present among some of the 61 passengers who tested positive after arriving on two flights from South Africa.
Indian Council of Medical Research says that there is no need to panic and stressed on the need to ramp up vaccination immediately.
India recorded 8,774 new COVID infections and 621 deaths in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, active cases have declined to 1,05,691.
Israel To Ban Entry of All Foreigners; Switzerland Adds Britain, Netherlands & Others to Quarantine List
On Saturday, 27 November, Israel had said it would ban the entry of all foreigners into the country, making it the first country to shut its borders completely in response to a new coronavirus variant.
Switzerland widened quarantine requirements to travellers arriving from Britain, Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Egypt and other countries where cases have been detected.
On Sunday, citing an official, news agency AFP reported that Israel has closed its border to all foreigners.
Mumbai Announces Guidelines for International Travellers
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued new guidelines for international passengers travelling from or transiting through South Africa, Hong Kong and Botswana — three countries where Omicron has been detected.
Passengers coming from these countries will have to undergo mandatory RT-PCR tests at the Mumbai Airport. Though until recently, a positive passenger was sent to home quarantine, now if a traveller tests positive for COVID-19, they will be sent to institutional quarantine and the samples will be sent for genome sequencing, Indian Express reported.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will hold a COVID-19 review meeting on Sunday with all Divisional Commissioners and Collectors.
'No Need to Panic': Indian Council of Medical Research
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Saturday said that there is no need to panic over the new COVID variant and instead requested people to not delay their second dose of the vaccine.
Samiran Panda, Head of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, at ICMR, was quoted as saying, “the structural changes detected in the virus may not necessarily give rise to a functional change of concern. It may not necessarily be lethal or result in severe form of disease. There is no such data, as of now. Of course, we have to wait and see", Times of India reported.
Indonesia to Ban Travellers From 8 African Countries
Indonesia will ban the arrival of travellers from eight African countries, in order to curb the spread of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19, Reuters reported on Sunday citing an official document.
Home to the popular tourist island of Bali, Indonesia, will not allow people who have been in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini or Nigeria in the past 14 days.
Omicron Not Yet Detected in India: INSACOG
Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), a consortium of government institutions involved in the genome sequencing of the COVID-19 infection, has not yet detected the presence of the Omicron variant in India.
One of the members was quoted as saying, "We have reviewed our genome sequencing and no cases have yet been detected" Economic Times reported.
Airport Screening Started in Bengaluru: Health Min
Bengaluru Health Minister Dr Sudhakar K informed news agency ANI, "We've started thorough airport screening and strong vigilance of those travelling from South Africa, Hong Kong, Botswana and other European countries, who have witnessed the new COVID variant."
He added, "PM Modi, in a meeting yesterday, guided and gave directions to all the vulnerable bordering districts. We've sent all the samples of travellers and college students who tested positive, to 3-4 genomic sequencing labs and are awaiting results for 5-6 days."
Taking All Precautions, Prepared for it: Haryana CM
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that the state is taking all precautions and is prepared to deal with the Omnicron COVID-19 variant.
"The District Commissioners have been asked to remain vigilant especially before granting permission for fairs," the CM said, ANI reported.
RT-PCR Report Mandatory for All Kerala & Maha Arrivals: Karnataka Govt
Production of a negative RT-PCR report, which is not older than 72 hours, will be mandatory for all arrivals from Kerala and Maharashtra, irrespective of vaccination status, the Government of Karnataka informed on Sunday.
Additionally, in the past 15 days, all students who have arrived from Kerala will be required to take an RT-PCR test, ANI reported.
'Stop Flights from Regions Witnessing Omnicron': Delhi CM to PM Modi
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal penned a letter to PM Narendra Modi, urging him to stop flights from all regions with cases of the new COVID-19 variant with immediate effect. "Any delay may prove harmful," Kejriwal wrote, ANI reported.
All Govt Departments on High Alert: Manish Sisodia
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Sunday that fear and concern is necessary in view of the new COVID-19 variant and that all government departments are on high alert, PTI reported.
He also urged people to take necessary precautions and refrain from mingling unnecessarily.
Increase Containment, Surveillance, Vaccination: Union Health Secy to States/UTs
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to all states and union territories over the Omicron COVID-19 variant, directing them to enforce intensive containment measures, enhance surveillance and increase vaccination coverage in their regions, ANI reported.
All Events in Educational Institutes May be Postponed for 2 Months: Karnataka Govt
In view of the recently emerged COVID-19 clusters in Mysuru, Dharwad and Bengaluru, the Government of Karnataka issued an advisory, saying that all social and cultural events, conferences, seminars, academic events, etc in educational institutions may be postponed for 2 months, ANI reported.
Govt to Review Resumption of International Commercial Travel
In an emergency meeting on the new COVID-19 variant chaired by Union Home Secretary, the decision on the resumption of scheduled commercial international passengers service will be taken in view of the developing global scenario, the Ministry of Home Affairs said, ANI reported.
Further, the government will review the statement of procedures on testing and surveillance of the incoming international passengers, especially for countries categorised as ‘at risk'.
Test, Isolate People Coming from African Countries: Uttarkhand Govt
The Uttarakhand government asked authorities to test and isolate travellers returning from African countries.
As per DG (Health) Dr Tripti Bahuguna, a person of Udham Singh Nagar, who returned from Congo, has tested negative in Truenet, Antigen & RT-PCR tests. He has been kept in isolation.
All Flights from African Countries to be Banned: Nepal
In view of the new variant, Nepal will ban all passengers arriving from South African countries, the county's Home Ministry said in a statement, PTI reported.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)