Jason McDonald, spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States (CDC), said that the agency “is working to modify its provisions on travel as we learn more about the omicron variant. A revised order would shorten the schedule of tests required for all international air travelers to one day before departure to the United States. “
The measure seeks to strengthen the control of omicron cases, a highly contagious variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that, due to its numerous mutations, could prove resistant to available vaccines.
Yesterday the first omicron case in the United States was confirmed. It was in California and corresponds to a person who had been vaccinated and who arrived from South Africa with mild symptoms.
The variant was first detected last week in South Africa, but researchers in the Netherlands later said it was already present in that country before that, and its Nigerian counterparts said yesterday that there is evidence that it was circulating there in October.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden plans to make new announcements today to increase prevention measures, although at press time it was not clear that the measures still included shortening for travelers to carry out PCR tests or antigens.
And beyond
Meanwhile, the world’s third largest economy, Japan, asked airlines not to accept ticket reservations to enter the country for a month, the Ministry of Transport reported yesterday.
That body made the decision after Japan confirmed yesterday a second case of the new variant in a passenger from Peru, a country that has not officially registered any omicron cases to date.
“We have asked airlines to stop accepting reservations for new incoming flights for one month from December 1,” said the Ministry of Transport. The portfolio added that existing reserves will not be affected.
Japan had already tightened its border measures by banning all non-Japanese from 10 southern African countries. It had also strengthened quarantine measures for its own citizens and foreign residents from dozens of other countries and territories due to the appearance of omicron.
Japan’s borders were virtually closed for much of the pandemic, and even in 2020 residents were barred from entering.
Center
Meanwhile, the suspension of air connections between France and the countries of southern Africa – the epicenter of omicron circulation -, which should have ended on Tuesday, was postponed until Saturday, government spokesman Gabriel Attal announced. at the end of a cabinet meeting in Paris.
Given the risks associated with the omicron variant, the spokesman specified that flights will resume on Saturday with a “drastic control” of passengers.
For travelers from countries outside the European Union, “we have decided to establish a mandatory negative test of less than 48 hours to travel to France, regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not, Attal said.
Reaction
Many countries responded to the first discovery of the omicron in South Africa by banning travel from that country and neighboring nations.
Israel and Morocco completely closed their borders, while Hong Kong added Japan, Portugal and Sweden to their travel restrictions and Uzbekistan said it will suspend flights with Hong Kong and South Africa. Malaysia temporarily banned travelers from eight African countries and said Britain and the Netherlands could join the list.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that “generic travel bans will not prevent the international spread of omicron and place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods,” while advising people to postpone their travel who do not feel well, have risk factors, are over 60 years of age or are not vaccinated.
The sectors linked to tourism are once again on alert. “It feels a bit like we’re going back to where we were a year ago and that’s not a great prospect for this industry and others,” Deidre Fulton of consultancy MIDAS Aviation said in a webinar.
Source From: Ambito
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