The Omicron variant arrived in Europe and fell less than a month after Christmas. At least one case has been identified in Belgium: a young woman, unvaccinated, arriving from Egypt, via Turkey and Europe, is also trembling because the new variant is more contagious. Some countries have already run to cover themselves like Italy or some American states. And that on the eve of the Christmas period means new restrictions on movement and movement and increased checks.

Most contagious Omicron variant

The Omicron variant or B.1.1.529 has a very high number of mutations on the spike protein, it is more contagious, with a greater risk of reinfection. The biggest alarm concerns the effectiveness of vaccines, it is feared, but this is only a hypothesis, that it may be more resistant to sera.

Omicron variant, travel

Italy, as mentioned, immediately implemented measures, blocking the entry of those who have stayed in any of the eight countries that have been affected in the past fourteen days. Similar measures in all European countries. Stop the connections of the 27 EU states with seven countries: Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia (in this country only 11.6% of the population is vaccinated and 230,000 vaccines could be destroyed because they expire), South Africa, Zimbabwe. Measurements between European countries are also possible if the number of positives for the Omicron variant increases in a country. Italy’s decision follows that of the United Kingdom, India, Israel, Japan, Spain, Germany and the Czech Republic, and is in line with the exhortation of von der Leyen: “The news about the new variant is very worrying. Member States are taking action. compact to limit their spread. We are activating the emergency brake by suspending all flights ”.

More checks in Italy

As a precaution, the Ministry of Health recommends in a circular signed by the director of prevention Gianni Rezza, sent to the Regions, to strengthen and monitor the tracking and sequencing activities in the case of travelers from countries or in the event of outbreaks characterized by a rapid and abnormal increase in cases and to promptly and scrupulously apply the measures already planned for the quarantine and isolation already planned for the Delta variant.

Holland, 61 positives from South Africa

And the alarm is spreading across Europe. Today’s news is that sixty-one people who arrived in Amsterdam from South Africa have tested positive for Covid. The Dutch authorities have made this known. You will need to determine if this is the Omicron variant. These are people who were on two flights from South Africa. 531 other passengers were negative.

Omicron variant, New York proclaims state of emergency

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for Covid and ordered all scheduled surgeries to be postponed, to channel forces in the face of possible increase in peak hospitalizations for the Covid pandemic, also in light of the registered variant. in South Africa. “We have decided to take extraordinary measures – explained Hochul – to prevent the situation from worsening. We continue to see infections on the rise and no cases related to the Omicron variant have yet been recorded ”. The governor explained the provision with the need not to overload intensive care in hospitals, given the arrival of the winter months when a new peak of infections is expected. But already now, the cases are multiplying. Hochul urged New Yorkers to get vaccinated and endure the third dose.

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