Moeti praised South Africa for following worldwide well being laws and informing WHO as quickly as its nationwide laboratory recognized the variant.
“The speed and transparency of the South African and Botswana governments in informing the world of the new variant is to be commended,” mentioned Moeti. “WHO stands with African countries which had the courage to boldly share life-saving public health information, helping protect the world against the spread of Covid-19.”
Cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus popped up in countries on reverse sides of the world Sunday and lots of governments rushed to shut their borders whilst scientists cautioned that it’s not clear if the brand new variant is extra alarming than different variations of the virus.
While investigations proceed into the Omicron variant, WHO recommends that every one countries “take a risk-based and scientific approach and put in place measures which can limit its possible spread.”
Israel determined to bar entry to foreigners, and Morocco mentioned it could droop all incoming flights for 2 weeks beginning Monday — among the many most drastic of a rising raft of travel curbs being imposed as nations scrambled to gradual the variant’s unfold. Scientists in a number of locations — from Hong Kong to Europe — have confirmed its presence. The Netherlands reported 13 instances on Sunday, and Australia discovered two.
The U.S. plans to ban travel from South Africa and 7 different southern African countries beginning Monday.
“With the Omicron variant now detected in several regions of the world, putting in place travel bans that target Africa attacks global solidarity,” mentioned Moeti. “Covid-19 constantly exploits our divisions. We will only get the better of the virus if we work together for solutions.”
WHO mentioned it scaling up its help for genomic sequencing in Africa so sequencing laboratories have entry to sufficient human sources and testing reagents to work at full capability. WHO additionally mentioned is able to supply extra assist, reinforcing Covid-19 responses together with surveillance, remedy, an infection prevention and neighborhood engagement in southern African countries, it mentioned.
