WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (BUS) – Air travelers to the United States will face stricter testing rules for COVID-19, as several countries have moved to close their borders amid growing uncertainty about the Omicron variant’s virulence and ability to evade presence. Vaccines.
In the Asia-Pacific region, Japan and Hong Kong said they would expand travel restrictions, while Australia braced for more coronavirus cases after at least two people visited several locations in its largest cities while potentially contagious.
In an effort to stave off hasty border restrictions, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to implement an “evidence-based and risk-based approach” to travel procedures, saying that “a blanket travel ban will not prevent international spread, and they are placing a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods.” .
Investors remained on edge on Wednesday, even as financial markets pulled out of their lows the previous day after Moderna CEO’s comments raised questions about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines against Omicron, Reuters reported.
Since then, global health officials have offered reassurances and repeated calls for people to be vaccinated.
“Even if the new alternative becomes more widespread, the vaccines we have will continue to provide protection,” said EMA Executive Director Emer Kwok.
Cook said lab analyzes should indicate within the next two weeks whether the blood of vaccinated people contains enough antibodies to neutralize the new variant, echoing observations of vaccine maker BioNTech and scientists.
The CEO of BioNTech said that a vaccine it is making in partnership with Pfizer (PFE.N) will likely provide strong protection against severe disease from Omicron.
Britain and the United States both pushed their own booster programs in response to the new variable.
First reported in South Africa a week ago, Omicron has sparked global anxiety, turbulent markets, led to travel bans and highlighted the disparity between massive vaccination batches in rich nations and sparse vaccinations in the developing world.
The World Health Organization said 56 countries had travel measures in place to protect against Omicron as of November 28.
“I understand very well the interest of all countries in protecting their citizens against a variable that we do not yet fully understand,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“But I am equally concerned that many member states are introducing frank and comprehensive measures that are not evidence-based or effective on their own, which will only exacerbate inequality,” Ghebreyesus added.
FKN