By ANI

GENEVA: The World Well being Group has urged international locations the world over to not impose journey bans on southern African international locations because of the ongoing considerations over the brand new COVID-19 variant Omicron.

Asserting that WHO stands with African nations, WHO’s regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti referred to as international locations to comply with science and worldwide well being laws so as to keep away from utilizing journey restrictions.

“@WHO stands with #African nations & requires borders to stay open. As international locations impose flight bans on southern African nations on account of considerations over the brand new #OmicronVariant, WHO urges international locations to comply with science & well being laws,” she mentioned in a tweet.

In an announcement, WHO’s regional workplace for Africa mentioned: “Journey restrictions might play a job in barely lowering the unfold of COVID-19 however place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods.”

“If restrictions are carried out, they shouldn’t be unnecessarily invasive or intrusive, and needs to be scientifically based mostly, based on the Worldwide Well being Rules, which is a legally binding instrument of worldwide legislation acknowledged by over 190 nations,” it added.

The WHO’s assertion additional acknowledged that South Africa adopted Worldwide Well being Rules and as quickly as its nationwide laboratory recognized the Omicron variant on November 24.

“The pace and transparency of the South African and Botswana governments in informing the world of the brand new variant is to be counseled. WHO stands with African international locations which had the braveness to boldly share life-saving public well being info, serving to defend the world towards the unfold of COVID-19,” it mentioned.

The WHO, on November 27, named the brand new COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529, which has been detected in South Africa, as ‘Omicron’.

This variant has numerous mutations, a few of that are regarding. The variety of circumstances of this variant seems to be growing in virtually all provinces in South Africa.

Primarily based on the proof offered indicative of a detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology, the Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) has suggested the WHO that this variant needs to be designated as a VOC, and the WHO has designated B.1.1.529 as a VOC, named Omicron, an announcement mentioned.

The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) is an impartial group of consultants that periodically screens and evaluates the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and assesses if particular mutations and mixtures of mutations alter the behaviour of the virus.

In the meantime, the WHO has additionally raised alarm amongst international locations after a brand new variant of COVID-19 has been categorised in South Africa, the Swiss Federal Workplace of Public Well being (FOPH) mentioned in an announcement.

Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands had been amongst people who joined the UK in limiting flights from southern Africa.

By PTI

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka will ban entry to most travellers from six southern African international locations from Sunday, after a probably extra contagious new coronavirus variant referred to as Omicron was recognized in South Africa earlier this week, healthcare authorities mentioned right here on Saturday.

“With impact from Sunday, arrivals from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini are required to bear necessary quarantine,” a round from the Director Basic of Well being Companies mentioned.

The brand new COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529, first detected in South Africa this week, was on Friday designated as a “Variant of Concern” by the World Well being Organisation (WHO), which named it “Omicron”.

​ALSO READ | PM Narendra Modi chairs meet on COVID state of affairs, vaccination amid new variant fears

A “variant of concern” is the WHO’s high class of worrying COVID-19 variants.

It was first reported to the WHO from South Africa on November 24, and has additionally been recognized in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel.

A lot of international locations world wide have now determined to ban or limit journey to and from these six southern Africa nations.

As a brand new COVID-19 variant referred to as “nu” has been detected from South African international locations travellers with a journey historical past together with transit previously 14 days to South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Eswaitini (Swaziland) is not going to be permitted to disembark in Sri Lanka”, the round added.

​EXPLAINER | Is new Covid variant ‘Omicron’ extra deadly than Delta? This is all you want to know

Regardless of their vaccination standing, travellers aged 12 years and above, who’re arriving in Sri Lanka over the weekend from these six southern African nations should bear PCR checks, based on the round.

Sri Lanka continues to document over 700 instances each day since a six-week lockdown was lifted on October 1.

As on Saturday, the island nation has recorded a complete of 561,059 confirmed instances and 14,258 deaths.

By Related Press

BRUSSELS: A slew of countries moved to cease air journey from southern Africa on Friday, November 26, 2201, and shares plunged in Asia and Europe in response to information of a brand new, doubtlessly extra transmissible COVID-19 variant.

“The very last thing we’d like is to herald a brand new variant that can trigger much more issues,” mentioned German Well being Minister Jens Spahn, amid an enormous spike in circumstances within the 27-nation European Union, which is recommending a ban on flights from southern African nations.

Inside a number of days of the invention of the brand new variant, it has already impacted on a jittery world that’s delicate to unhealthy COVID-19 information, with deaths across the globe standing at properly over 5 million.

Medical specialists, together with the World Well being Group, warned in opposition to any overreaction earlier than all components had been clear however nations who acted mentioned their issues had been justified.

“Early indications present this variant could also be extra transmissible than the delta variant and present vaccines could also be much less efficient in opposition to it,” British Well being Secretary Sajid Javid advised lawmakers. “We should transfer shortly and on the earliest attainable second,” he mentioned.

Belgium grew to become the primary European Union nation to announce a case of the variant.

“We now have one case of this variant that’s confirmed. It’s somebody who got here from overseas,” mentioned Well being Minister Frank Vandenbroucke. “It’s a suspicious variant. We don’t know if it’s a really harmful variant.”

Israel, one of many world’s most vaccinated nations, introduced Friday that it has additionally detected the nation’s first case of the brand new variant, in a traveler who returned from Malawi. The traveler and two different suspected circumstances have been positioned in isolation. It mentioned all three are vaccinated however that it’s presently wanting into their actual vaccination standing.

The brand new variant instantly contaminated inventory markets world wide. Main indexes fell in Europe and Asia and Dow Jones futures dipped 800 factors forward of the market opening within the U.S.

“Traders are prone to shoot first and ask questions later till extra is thought,” mentioned Jeffrey Halley of overseas change dealer Oanda.

Oil costs plunged, with US. crude off 6.7% at $73.22 per barrel and the worldwide Brent benchmark off 5.6% at $77.64, each unusually giant strikes for a single day. The pandemic precipitated oil costs to plunge in the course of the preliminary outbreak of the pandemic in 2020 as a result of journey restrictions diminished demand for gasoline.

Airways shares had been hammered, with Lufthansa off 12.4%, IAG, mum or dad of British Airways and Iberia, off 14.4%, Air France-KLM down 8.9% and easyJet falling 10.9%

The WHO cautioned to not bounce to conclusions too quick.

Talking earlier than the EU announcement, Dr. Michael Ryan, the top of emergencies on the WHO mentioned that “it’s actually necessary that there aren’t any knee-jerk responses.”

“We’ve seen previously, the minute there’s any type of point out of any type of variation and everyone seems to be closing borders and proscribing journey. It’s actually necessary that we stay open, and keep targeted,” Ryan mentioned.

The Africa Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention agreed and it “strongly discourages the imposition of journey ban for individuals originating from nations which have reported this variant,” it mentioned in a press release. It added that “over the period of this pandemic, we’ve got noticed that imposing bans on vacationers from nations the place a brand new variant is reported has not yielded a significant end result.”

These urgings shortly fell on deaf ears.

The U.Okay. introduced that it was banning flights from South Africa and 5 different southern African nations efficient at midday on Friday, and that anybody who had not too long ago arrived from these nations could be requested to take a coronavirus check.

Germany mentioned its flight ban could possibly be enacted as quickly as Friday evening. Spahn mentioned airways getting back from South Africa will solely be capable to transport German residents dwelling, and vacationers might want to go into quarantine for 14 days whether or not they’re vaccinated or not.

Germany has seen new document day by day case numbers in current days and handed the mark of 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 on Thursday.

Italy’s well being ministry additionally introduced measures to ban entry into Italy of anybody who has been in seven southern African nations — South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini — previously 14 days as a result of new variant. The Netherlands and the Czech Republic are planning comparable measures.

The Japanese authorities introduced that from Friday, Japanese nationals touring from Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho should quarantine at government-dedicated lodging for 10 days and do a COVID check on Day 3, Day 6 and Day 10. Japan has not but opened as much as overseas nationals.

The actions had a fast impact on the planet of sports activities. A batch of British and Irish golfers withdrew from the Joburg Open earlier than Friday’s second spherical after the U.Okay. authorities introduced it was banning flights from South Africa.

The South African authorities mentioned in a press release that the “U.Okay.’s determination to quickly ban South Africans from getting into the U.Okay. appears to have been rushed as even the World Well being Group is but to advise on the subsequent steps.”

The coronavirus evolves because it spreads and lots of new variants, together with these with worrying mutations, usually simply die out. Scientists monitor for attainable adjustments that could possibly be extra transmissible or lethal, however finding out whether or not new variants could have a public well being influence can take time.

At the moment recognized as B.1.1.529, the brand new variant has additionally been present in Botswana and Hong Kong in vacationers from South Africa, he mentioned.

The WHO’s technical working group is to satisfy Friday to evaluate the brand new variant and will determine whether or not to present it a reputation from the Greek alphabet. It says coronavirus infections jumped 11% in Europe previously week, the one area on the planet the place COVID-19 continues to rise. The WHO’s Europe director, Dr. Hans Kluge, warned that with out pressing measures, the continent might see one other 700,000 deaths by the spring.

By Related Press

GENEVA: Advisers to the World Well being Group are holding a particular session Friday to flesh out details about a worrying new variant of the coronavirus that has been detected in South Africa, although a high skilled says its influence on COVID-19 vaccines will not be recognized for weeks.

The technical advisory group on the evolution of COVID-19 was assembly just about to debate the so-called B.1.1.529 variant that has induced inventory markets to swoon and led the European Union to advocate a pause in flights to southern Africa.

The group may determine if it is a “variant of concern” — essentially the most worrying sort, just like the well-known delta variant — or a “variant of curiosity,” and whether or not to make use of a Greek letter to categorise it.

“We do not know very a lot about this, but. What we do know is that this variant has a lot of mutations, and the priority is that when you could have so many mutations it could actually have an effect on how the virus behaves,” stated Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead on COVID-19, in a social-media chat Thursday.

Fewer than 100 full genome sequences of the variant are up to now out there, she stated.

“It’ll take just a few weeks for us to know what influence this variant has on any potential vaccines, for instance,” Van Kerkhove stated.

Reached by cellphone, advisory group chairman Dr. Anurag Agrawal, the director of Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology in New Delhi, stated it was too quickly to touch upon the variant. He stated that extra knowledge was wanted earlier than he may add to the data that was already out there.

“That is one to observe. I might say now we have concern, however I feel you’ll need us to have concern,” Van Kerkhove stated. “We now have people who find themselves on this.”

By PTI

UNITED NATIONS/GENEVA: The World Well being Organisation is monitoring the brand new coronavirus variant B.1.1.529 first detected in South Africa and can maintain a “particular assembly” on Friday to debate if the closely mutated pressure will change into a variant of curiosity or a variant of concern, a high official mentioned.

The newest variant is probably the most closely mutated model found up to now.

First recognized in South Africa firstly of this week, the pressure has already unfold to neighbouring international locations, together with Botswana, the place it has been reportedly detected in totally vaccinated folks.

The brand new variant has been red-flagged by scientists over an alarmingly excessive variety of spike mutations which may make the virus extra immune to vaccines, enhance its transmissibility and result in extra extreme COVID-19 signs.

“There are fewer than 100 complete genome sequences which might be out there. We do not know very a lot about this but. What we do know is that this variant has a lot of mutations. And the priority is that when you could have so many mutations, that may have an effect on how the virus behaves,” Infectious Illness Epidemiologist and COVID-19 Technical Lead on the WHO Maria Van Kerkhove mentioned throughout a digital Q&A session on Thursday.

She mentioned proper now the researchers had been getting collectively to know the place these mutations and spike protein are and what that doubtlessly might imply for COVID19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.

Kerkhove mentioned WHO colleagues in South Africa are planning to undertake a neutralisation examine that may take a couple of weeks “for us to know what affect this variant has on any potential vaccines.”

​ALSO READ | ‘Display passengers from South Africa, Hong Kong’: Centre to states amid discovery of latest Covid variant

Emphasising that a substantial amount of work is underway on the brand new variant, Kerkhove mentioned the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution is discussing this with colleagues in South Africa.

“We’re additionally assembly once more tomorrow. We’re calling a particular assembly to debate this, to not trigger alarm, however simply because we’ve this technique in place, we might deliver these scientists collectively and talk about what does it imply and likewise can set the timeline for the way lengthy it’s going to take for us to get these solutions,” she mentioned.

“So proper now, it is a variant that’s below monitoring. The TAG Virus Evolution working group will talk about if it’s going to change into a variant of curiosity or a variant of concern. And if that is the case, then we are going to assign it a Greek title. However it’s one thing to observe,” she mentioned.

It’s “good” that a majority of these variants are being detected as a result of meaning there’s a system in place that’s working, Kerkhove famous.

The WHO has mentioned that solely 27 per cent of well being staff in Africa have been totally vaccinated towards COVID-19, leaving the majority of the workforce on the frontlines towards the pandemic unprotected.

After virtually 4 months of a sustained decline, COVID-19 circumstances within the basic inhabitants in Africa have plateaued.

For the primary time because the third wave peak in August, circumstances in Southern Africa have elevated, leaping 48 per cent within the week ending on November 21 in contrast with the earlier week.

Thus far, greater than 227 million vaccine doses have been administered in Africa.

In 39 international locations which offered knowledge, 3.9 million doses have been given to well being staff.

“With a brand new surge in circumstances looming over Africa following the end-of-year festive season, international locations should urgently pace up the rollout of vaccines to well being care staff,” mentioned Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

In keeping with the WHO, vaccine shipments have been on the rise over the previous three months.

Africa has acquired 330 million doses from the COVAX Facility, the African Vaccine Acquisition Activity Group and bilateral agreements since February 2021.

Of those 83 per cent have been delivered since August alone.

As vaccine provide picks up, addressing uptake bottlenecks and accelerating rollout change into extra essential.

Kerkhove mentioned that the extra the COVID-19 virus circulates, the extra alternatives the virus has to vary, the extra mutations there shall be.

“So, we have to drive that transmission down in order that we cut back the potential of having extra variants emerge. However that is one to observe. I’d say we’ve a priority however I believe you’d need us to have a priority,” she mentioned.

She famous that the WHO was monitoring no less than 30 sub-lineages of the extremely transmissible Delta variant, which can also be evolving.

In opposition to the backdrop of the brand new variant being detected in South Africa, Dr Mike Ryan, Government Director of the WHO Emergencies Programme, cautioned that there ought to be no knee-jerk responses particularly with relation to South Africa, which is choosing up fascinating and essential alerts for “which we’re doing the right danger evaluation and danger administration. He mentioned that previously when there was any point out of any sort of variation of the virus, everybody was “closing borders and limiting journey”.

“It is actually essential that we stay open, and we are going to stay centered on understanding and characterizing the issue and never punishing international locations for doing excellent scientific work and truly being open and clear about what they’re seeing and what they’re discovering,” Ryan mentioned.

The WHO official mentioned it was actually essential that international locations just like the UK and South Africa, who’re brazenly sharing and being clear about variants, are supported.

“If we’ll beat this virus, we want good info. And good info will solely come when folks really feel that they might share that info with out being punished for having accomplished so. We’ve not totally assessed any risk or danger related to this variation. That is still to be seen and the research have to be accomplished,” he mentioned.

Cautioning those who viruses evolve and there are variations, Ryan, nonetheless, added that “it isn’t the top of the world and the sky will not be falling in.”

By Related Press

GENEVA: The World Well being Group’s Europe workplace says projections present its 53-country area might face one other 700,000 deaths within the coronavirus pandemic by subsequent spring, topping 2 million in complete.

WHO Europe, which relies in Copenhagen, Denmark, additionally cited rising proof of a decline in safety towards an infection and gentle illness by vaccines, and stated a “booster dose” ought to be given as a precedence to probably the most weak populations — together with individuals with weakened immune methods — in addition to individuals over age 60 and well being care employees.

The U.N. well being company’s worldwide headquarters in Geneva, nonetheless, has repeatedly referred to as for a moratorium on the usage of boosters by year-end in order that doses could be made out there for a lot of creating international locations which have confronted a extreme lack of the COVID-19 vaccines in comparison with the wealthy world.

WHO Europe referred to as on individuals to get vaccinated and respect correct hygiene and apply social distancing to assist cease the unfold of the virus.

“At the moment, the COVID-19 state of affairs throughout Europe and Central Asia may be very critical. We face a difficult winter forward, however we shouldn’t be with out hope, as a result of all of us — governments, well being authorities, people — can take decisive motion to stabilize the pandemic,” stated Dr. Kluge, the regional director for WHO Europe, in an announcement.

The European area, which stretches deep into central Asia, reported that deaths resulting from COVID-19 rose to almost 4,200 per day final week — a doubling of ranges recorded on the finish of September. Cumulative deaths have now reached 1.5 million within the area.

The three elements driving the rise are the extremely transmissible delta variant of the virus, an easing of restrictive measures like necessities for mask-wearing and bodily distancing in locations, and huge swaths of the European inhabitants that stay unvaccinated, WHO Europe stated.

“We are able to count on that there can be excessive or excessive stress on hospital beds in 25 international locations, and excessive or excessive stress in intensive care items (ICUs) in 49 out of 53 international locations between now and 1 March 2022,” a WHO Europe assertion stated. “Cumulative reported deaths are projected to succeed in over 2.2 million by spring subsequent yr, primarily based on present traits.”

It stated the area might face a cumulative 2 million deaths as a result of pandemic by March 1.

By PTI

NEW DELHI: Thus far 110 nations have agreed to mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccination certificates with India, official sources stated on Thursday.

The Union authorities continues to be in communication with the remainder of the world in order that beneficiaries of the world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination program are accepted and recognised, thereby easing journey for schooling, enterprise and tourism functions.

At current, 110 nations have agreed to mutual recognition of vaccination certificates and likewise those that recognise Indian vaccination certificates of travellers absolutely vaccinated with Covishield/WHO accredited/nationally accredited Covid vaccines, the official sources stated.

​ALSO READ | 96 nations have agreed to mutual settle for Indian COVID vaccine certificates: Mansukh Mandaviya

There are nations which have settlement with India on mutual recognition of vaccination certificates of nationally recognised or WHO recognised vaccines.

Equally, there are nations which presently would not have such an settlement with India, however they exempt Indian residents absolutely vaccinated with nationally recognised or WHO recognised vaccines, in accordance with the Well being Ministry tips.

On the idea of reciprocity, the travellers from all such nations which offer quarantine-free entry to Indians are allowed sure relaxations on arrival (Class A nations), the rules learn.

If a traveller is absolutely vaccinated and coming from a rustic with which India has reciprocal preparations for mutual acceptance of WHO accredited COVID-19 vaccines, they shall be allowed to go away the airport and needn’t bear house quarantine.

They shall self monitor their well being for 14 days’ put up arrival.

​ALSO READ | Over 115 crore vaccine doses administered in India until now, says Well being Ministry

If partially or not vaccinated, the travellers must undertake measures which embrace submission of pattern for post-arrival COVID-19 take a look at on the level of arrival after which they are going to be allowed to go away the airport, house quarantine for seven days, re-test on the eighth day of arrival in India and if destructive, additional self-monitor of their well being for subsequent 7 days.

“Fifteen days should have elapsed since completion of COVID-19 vaccination schedule,” the rules stated.

Travellers from nations excluding these nations in danger, shall be allowed to go away the airport and shall self-monitor their well being for 14 days’ put up arrival.

That is relevant to travellers from all nations together with Nations with which reciprocal preparations for mutual acceptance of WHO accredited COVID-19 vaccines additionally exist.

By Related Press

LONDON: The World Well being Organisation says coronavirus deaths in Europe rose by 5 per cent within the final week, making it the one area on the planet the place COVID-19 mortality elevated.

The UN well being company mentioned confirmed instances jumped 6 per cent soar globally, pushed by will increase within the Americas, Europe and Asia.

In its weekly report on the pandemic issued late Tuesday, WHO mentioned COVID-19 deaths in all areas aside from Europe remained steady or declined, and totaled 50,000 worldwide final week.

Of the three.3 million new infections reported, 2.1 million got here from Europe.

It was the seventh consecutive week that COVID-19 instances continued to mount throughout the 61 international locations WHO counts in its European area, which stretches by means of Russia to central Asia.

Whereas about 60 per cent of individuals in Western Europe are totally immunized in opposition to COVID-19, solely about half as many are vaccinated within the japanese a part of the continent, the place officers wrestle to beat widespread vaccine hesitancy.

WHO mentioned infections have been falling in Africa, the Center East and Southeast Asia since July.

Inside Europe, WHO mentioned the very best numbers of recent instances had been in Russia, Germany and Britain.

It famous that deaths jumped by 67 per cent in Norway and by 38 per cent in Slovakia.

The well being company beforehand described Europe as being the epicenter of the continued pandemic and warned that there might be 500,000 extra deaths by January if pressing actions aren’t taken.

Within the final week, Austria, the Netherlands and another international locations reintroduced some lockdown measures to attempt to sluggish infections, whereas the UK determined to roll out booster doses to everybody over age 40.

“We have to recognise the function of well being methods as emitters,” stated Rachel Levine, the US assistant secretary of well being. “We can’t stand again and solely inform others what they need to do to guard our sufferers.”

The primary sources of emissions from the healthcare sector embody the manufacture and transport of medical items, in addition to the development and operation of hospitals and clinics.

On Tuesday, the World Well being Group (WHO) introduced dozens of governments had dedicated to scale back emissions of their well being methods or to transition fully to net-zero. Audio system additionally known as on international locations to prepare for extra climate-linked diseases and casualties.

Already, local weather change is worsening meals and water safety, whereas lethal heatwaves and floods are testing communities all over the world. Medical methods are sometimes being strained if not broken by these identical forms of occasions.

Fiji’s UN Ambassador Satyendra Prasad described the problem of holding medical amenities open within the midst of superstorms and floods which might be battering the Pacific island nation. “It’s fairly tragic when your docs and nurses are themselves being evacuated, when they need to be offering front-line companies,” he stated.

Fiji can be seeing extra waterborne ailments within the flooding after storms, he stated. Susceptible international locations want cash to maneuver medical amenities to greater floor and to coach well being professionals to cope with climate-linked well being points, he stated.

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, now the WHO ambassador on international well being finance, known as on wealthy international locations to maintain their promise to supply $100 billion a 12 months in local weather financing for poorer nations. That cash, he stated, might be used to bolster healthcare worldwide.

Medical doctors have stated one of the simplest ways to stop spiraling public well being risks is to fulfill the 2015 Paris Settlement objective of limiting international warming to 1.5 levels Celsius above pre-industrial ranges.

An editorial run in 233 well being journals urged the identical, saying that passing the 1.5C threshold dangers “catastrophic hurt to well being that shall be not possible to reverse”.

“Though COVID has been a plague, local weather change will take extra lives within the subsequent 50 to 100 years than something that that [the coronavirus] illness will do,” Brown stated. “We have to preserve 1.5 levels alive to maintain hundreds of thousands of individuals alive.”