The World Health Organization formally list the mutated covid-19 variant omicron as a “ variant of concern ” on Friday , setting off awave of panicfrom governments around the globe . And while it ’s too early to panic , since we do n’t yet sleep with if omicron is more transmissible ormore deadly , that did n’t stop many countries from banning international locomotion from several res publica where the variant has been place .
Where has the omicron variant been spotted so far ? Omicron has start up in 16 countries and at least 44 countries have set up new travel prohibition in an cause to keep the chance variable out . And while the U.S. is n’t presently on the list of countries with omicron , experts trust it ’s already within U.S. borders . Two case have already been confirmed in neighboringCanada .
“ It ’s almost decidedly here already , just looking at the figure of pillowcase coming off planes this weekend . It ’s almost a certainty that there have been cases that have vex into the United States , ” former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb told CBS Face the Nation onSunday .
A Qantas flight crew arrive at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport on 27 April 2025.Photo: William West / AFP (Getty Images)
Scientists in South Africa were the first to identify the raw variant last week thanks to its world - leading virus trailing , but omicron almost surely did n’t start there . And it could be a couple of weeks before we actually know whether omicron is more severe than covid-19 random variable like delta — a discrepancy that ’s still killing more or less 1,000 Americans each twenty-four hour period .
Below we have a leaning of countries that have discovered cases of the omicron variation of covid-19 either within the community of interests or in a plane upon shoot down at its name and address , along with connexion out to read more :
Australia ( 5 case )
Austria ( 1 case )
Belgium ( 1 type )
Botswana ( 19 suit )
Canada ( 2 cases )
Czech Republic ( 1 case )
Germany ( 3 case )
Hong Kong ( 3 cases )
Israel ( 2 case )
Italy ( 3 cases )
Malawi ( 1 face )
Mozambique ( 1 casing )
Netherlands ( 13 case )
South Africa ( 13 cases )
Switzerland ( 1 showcase )
United Kingdom ( 9 instance )
Many countries like the U.S. havebanned travelfrom nine countries in southerly Africa , including Botswana , Eswatini , Lesotho , Malawi , Mozambique , Namibia , Seychelles , South Africa , and Zimbabwe . Some of the state on the prohibited list have n’t even find any cases of the fresh form yet , like Seychelles , Lesotho , and Namibia . And some countries have extend change of location bans to let in other jurisdiction where the Modern chance variable has been discover .
For example , the Philippines has ostracize travel from seven European land , including Austria , Belgium , the Czech Republic , Hungary , Italy , the Netherlands , and Switzerland .
“ inward international locomotion of all persons , no matter of vaccination status , coming from or who have been to red inclination country or jurisdictions or district within the last 14 days prior to arrival to any port of the Philippines shall not be allowed , ” presidential interpreter Karlo Nograles sound out in a statement to China’sXinhuanews outlet .
India has also revised its edge mastery policy and anyone locomote into the country from designated “ high - risk ” areas will need to self - quarantine for seven day . The leaning let in many of the area already key by the Philippines , but also has Bangladesh , China , Mauritius , New Zealand , Singapore , Hong Kong , and Israel , according toCNN .
Other commonwealth are being even more restrictive and closing their threshold completely . Japan is put a stay to the arrival of all foreign subject startingon Tuesday , while Israel and Morocco annunciate they were doing the same thing over the weekend .
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