Concerns are growing worldwide over the Omicron variant of the new coronavirus, with more and more countries reporting confirmed or suspected cases.
In Europe, confirmed cases have been detected in the Netherlands, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Belgium and Denmark.
Suspicious cases are being investigated in France, Austria and Switzerland
Confirmed cases of the variant strain Omicron were also detected on Sunday in Australia and Canada, while they were also detected in Israel.
After Israel and Japan are expected to announce that they will close the border to virtually all foreigners from this month, according to Japanese media. The official announcement of the measure is expected to be made within the day.
Britain, meanwhile, has said it will convene an emergency meeting of G7 health ministers today (Monday) to discuss developments as US President Joe Biden meets with members of the White House.
Escape from a quarantine hotel
In the Netherlands, meanwhile, a couple who had “escaped” from a hotel where South African passengers who had been confirmed to have been infected with the new coronavirus were arrested on board a passenger plane at Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport.
He is a 30-year-old Spaniard and a 28-year-old Portuguese woman
The plane on which they had boarded was to “depart for Spain”.
The 30-year-old is positive, his partner is not, but she was also isolated.
“Prohibitions are unjustified”
Reactions to travel bans imposed by dozens of countries continue in South Africa.
President Cyril Ramafoza condemned the travel bans in his country and in neighboring countries, saying he was very disappointed. He even spoke of an unjustified move and demanded their immediate removal.
He emphasized that there was no scientific basis for travel bans, saying that the southern tip of Africa had been the subject of unfair discrimination.
“It simply came to our notice then.
The South African president described the appearance of the Omicron variant as a bell about the inequality in the world regarding vaccines
Waiting stop from WHERE
Yesterday, the World Health Organization announced that it is not yet clear whether the new variant is more contagious than the others or whether it causes a more serious disease.
However, he reiterated that initial data suggest that there may be a higher risk of re-infection from this variant.
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