On 26 November 2021, WHO designated the variant B.1.1.529 a variant of concern, named Omicron, on the advice of WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE). This decision was based on the evidence presented to the TAG-VE that Omicron has several mutations that may have an impact on how it behaves, for example, on how easily it spreads or the severity of illness it causes. Here is a summary of what is currently known.
Current knowledge about Omicron
Researchers in South Africa and around the world are conducting studies to better understand many aspects of Omicron and will continue to share the findings of these studies as they become available. Transmissibility: It is not yet clear whether Omicron is more transmissible (e.g., more easily spread from person to person) compared to other variants, including Delta. The number of people testing positive has risen in areas of South Africa affected by this variant, but epidemiologic studies are underway to understand if it is because of Omicron or other factors.
The severity of disease: It is not yet clear whether infection with Omicron causes more severe disease compared to infections with other variants, including Delta. Preliminary data suggests that there are increasing rates of hospitalization in South Africa, but this may be due to increasing overall numbers of people becoming infected, rather than a result of a specific infection with Omicron. There is currently no information to suggest that symptoms associated with Omicron are different from those from other variants. Initially reported infections were among university students—younger individuals who tend to have the more mild disease—but understanding the level of severity of the Omicron variant will take days to several weeks. All variants of COVID-19, including the Delta variant that is dominant worldwide, can cause severe disease or death, in particular for the most vulnerable people, and thus prevention is always key.
Source: who.int/news
WHO advises against international travel for those over the age of 60 due to Omicron
TORONTO — In light of the new variant Omicron emerging, the World Health Organization (WHO) has put out new advice regarding international travel, including that those over the age of 60 years old should refrain from travelling.
The organization put out an advisory on Tuesday listing ways that countries and individuals can attempt to stay safe and minimize the risk posed by Omicron.
One of the main points was that people who are at a higher risk of developing the severe disease if they contract COVID-19 — people who are sick, immunocompromised, have comorbidities such as heart disease, cancer. Scientists in South Africa identified a new version of the novel coronavirus last week, which was quickly labelled a variant of concern and dubbed Omicron. Although not much is known about Omicron at this stage, the new variant seems to have a high number of mutations that make it different from other variants, raising concerns that it could prove to be more transmissible, or able to reinfect those who had COVID-19 previously.
The identification of a new variant has led a number of countries, including Canada, to announce temporary travel bans and other health measures intended to stop the variant from spreading. However, several cases of Omicron have been detected in more than one Canadian province so far…..
“In addition, all travellers should be reminded to remain vigilant for signs and symptoms of COVID-19, to get vaccinated when it is their turn and to adhere to public health and social measures at all times and regardless of vaccination status, including by using masks appropriately, respecting physical distancing, following good respiratory etiquette and avoiding crowded and poorly ventilated spaces,” the advisory stated.
Source: cbc.ca/news
Tracking global Omicron travel restrictions
About 30 countries have closed their borders to some countries and others have imposed stricter measures to curb the spread of the Omicron variant. The newly detected coronavirus variant has forced countries to tighten their borders just as many were beginning to reopen to foreign travel. Nations are adopting different levels of border control with countries such as Israel, Morocco and Japan closing their borders entirely, while others have only tightened COVID testing at the border. The map below shows countries that have imposed travel bans. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
Total bans:
China – China already had stringent border controls in place, with only citizens and resident permit holders allowed into the country.
Israel – Israel banned foreigners from entering the country for 14 days. Israeli citizens will be able to come back to the country but will need to quarantine, even if fully vaccinated.
Japan – Japan closed its borders to non-citizens for one month, this includes foreign exchange students and those travelling for business.
Morocco – Morocco suspended all incoming flights for two weeks.
Partial bans:
Angola – Australia – Brazil – Cambodia –
Canada – Canada banned non-citizens who have travelled to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe since November 12.
Egypt – Egypt halted direct flights from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Fiji – Fiji already had strict border controls, and only citizens can enter the country.
Indonesia – Indonesia banned any foreigners who spent the last 14 days in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Italy, Kuwait, Netherlands, New Zealand – Oman, Rwanda, Singapore, Sri Lanka,
Thailand, Philippines –France –Germany
Pakistan – Pakistan closed its borders to Botswana, Hong Kong, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa.
Somalia -Rwanda suspended all direct flights to and from southern Africa.
Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia halted flights from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe and non-citizens who have spent the past 14 days in the listed countries will be barred from entry
Turkey – Turkey banned arrivals from Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
United Arab Emirates – Travellers from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are restricted from travelling to the UAE.
United Kingdom – The UK added Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to its red list.
United States – The US restricted non-citizens from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe from entering the country.
Source: dawn.com
How is the Omicron variant different and why are scientists so concerned?
CANMORE, ALTA. — Scientists around the world are racing to learn more about the newly discovered B.1.1.529 coronavirus variant, now known as Omicron, to see how it compares to other variants of concern.
The important questions – like how transmissible it is, how good it is at evading immunity from vaccines or past illness, and whether it causes more severe illness – remain to be answered. While some scientists say it will be weeks before we get a clear picture of how Omicron will impact the pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday it expects to have more information on the transmissibility of the variant within days.. What we do know about this variant is that it contains more than 30 mutations in the spike protein, which allows it to bind to human cells and gain entry to the body – a factor that has elevated concerns for some scientists.
WHAT IS A MUTATION?
First, it’s important to remember that mutations to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, have been expected since the early days of the pandemic. That’s because mutations always arise as viruses spread – it’s how they ensure their own survival.
According to researchers from Yale University, SARS-CoV-2 gains access to our cells using its “corona” – a layer of protein spikes that fit into our cells like a lock and key – where it makes copies of its genomes.
But during that process, errors are inevitably introduced into the code, causing a mutation or variant.
Sometimes those mutations are harmless. But other times, like in the case of the Delta variant, the virus can change to become more transmissible or cause more severe illness. “What we have seen with other viruses is, over time, they mutate in various ways. And one of the ways that they can mutate is to actually get a little bit less severe because there’s a bit of a fitness cost to the virus,” Dr Susy Hota, infectious disease expert at Toronto’s University Health Network told CTV’s Your Morning Wednesday.
“If it starts to kill off its hosts a little bit too early, it just won’t replicate. And that’s the goal of a virus, is to make more copies of itself and persist over time.”
Hota notes that COVID-19 has held its advantage with previous variants because it tends to have infections that last for quite a while, giving it plenty of opportunities to spread from person to person.
Source: ctvnews.ca
