Omicron variant spreads in more than 20 countries
Omicron intensifies pandemic data and unleashes social alarm. New cases of Omicron have been detected in at least 25 countries so far, something that worries health experts due to the general lack of knowledge about the new variant.
What is known so far, experts say, is that "the mutations in the Omicron variant clearly indicate that it is more contagious than the previous mutant". The reason for this rapid spread remains unanswered, as do other pressing questions such as whether current vaccines are effective against the new variant or whether the new symptoms may be severe.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has outlined its approach to "strengthen coronavirus testing and screening of people coming into the country". They have already indicated that all international travellers should have a negative PCR test result 24 hours prior to departure.
According to CDC spokesman Jason McDonald, "these tests will be performed on all travellers as we increase our knowledge of the omicron mutation".
Meanwhile, American Centers director Rochelle Wolinsky said 800,000 coronavirus samples per week are being tested, which equates to "one-seventh of all positive PCR laboratory tests in the country and will double testing of international passengers arriving in the United States".
Just a day after the WHO warned that the risk of infection with the Omicron variant is "extremely high", the organisation warned that people over the age of 60, ill or with health risks should avoid travel.
According to America's leading infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, he said it will be at least "two to four weeks, and perhaps a little sooner, before interim responses are available".
To tackle this new wave, health experts have stressed the importance of action as soon as possible. In Greece, the health minister said that vaccinations against the coronavirus will be compulsory for people over 60 years of age and that, in case of failure to register for vaccination, fines will be imposed against this section of the population.
In South Africa, where the Omicron variant was first announced, the number of cases was reported to have risen from 300 cases per day in mid-November to 3,000 cases per day, the fastest rate of infection in the world.
In this context, several flights from South Africa to the Netherlands have already been detected with 61 passengers testing positive for coronavirus. Of these, at least 14 were reportedly infected with the Omicron variant.
Vaccine manufacturers are also looking to reconfigure the doses so that they are able to counteract the infection rate of the new variant. In this vein, the US Food and Drug Administration's advisory committee recommended approval of an oral treatment that may be able to reduce the most severe cases of the coronavirus.
However, this variant from the African cone has not surprised health experts. The vaccination plan has been relatively successful in the richer countries while the poor have barely been able to receive even doses of vaccine.
In response, World Health Organisation head Tedros Ghebreyesus said that "equality in vaccines is not a matter of charity, it is in the best interest of all countries".
"It is time for countries to agree on a common and binding approach to address a common threat to us all that we cannot fully control or prevent," he said.
Despite the growing abundance of vaccines, African countries still face challenges in delivering them and overcoming reluctance.
