US President Joe Biden said on Monday that the omicron variant, first detected by scientists in South Africa, is a cause for concern, not panic. Since last Friday (26), countries around the world, including the United States, have decreed the suspension of flights from the African continent, which is not recommended by the WHO (World Health Organization).
Biden, however, defended the measure, saying it was necessary because of the high numbers of detected cases and so that Americans have more time to get vaccinated. So far, at least 15 countries on five continents have reported cases of the variant. “Sooner or later we will see cases of this new variant here in the United States,” he said.
In the speech, given at the White House, he ruled out the possibility of decreeing a new lockdown in the country, as a way to contain a possible advance of the omicron within the American borders. “We are going to fight and win this new variant,” he said.
The Democrat also reinforced that his government has been working with Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson laboratories to develop contingency plans, if necessary, to deal with the new variant.
According to the WHO, studies are still being carried out to assess the impact of the variant on current immunizers against Covid-19. In a bulletin released on Sunday (28), the organization stressed that vaccines remain crucial “to reduce serious illnesses and death, including against the dominant circulating variant, Delta”.
Already on Monday, the WHO warned that the omicron represents a “very high risk” for the planet.
The American president also took advantage of the context to ask the population to get vaccinated and go back to wearing masks indoors, an obligation that ceased to exist in May, but was recommended again two months later. “Please wear your mask when you are in closed and public places, close to other people.”
Currently, according to the CDC (United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention), 59% of the American population is fully vaccinated and 70% has received at least one dose. In Brazil, they are 62.3% and 76.6%, respectively.
Earlier, Anthony Fauci, the leading US infectious disease expert, said in an interview with ABC News that the United States should not impose any further restrictions on the micron’s arrival in advance.
The South African minister of Health, on the other hand, reacting to recent measures relating to the suspension of flights from Africa, called, also on Monday, for the end of the restrictions, which he characterized as discriminatory. “The same bans have not been imposed on other countries where this variant has already been found,” said Joe Phaahla during a speech to the WHO.
On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa made a similar request, criticizing developed countries for automatically imposing travel bans after hearing about the omicron. The South African leader also accused them of not honoring mutual cooperation agreements in fighting the pandemic.
“The travel ban is not based on science nor will it be effective in preventing the spread of this variant,” said Ramaphosa.
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