The whole world seems to assume the new variant of the coronavirus, Omicron, to be the most disastrous among the others already identified, even though it was only detected a week ago. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified it as a "variant of concern," with further studies still needed to verify the real severity of the mutation.
The main warning point at the moment, is that the variant contains more than 30 mutations in the Spike protein, which is the main protein of SARS-CoV-2, and has already been detected in at least 12 countries.
The data we present refer to registrations made until last Sunday (28).
South Africa reported 77 cases, in Gauteng province; Netherlands had 13 cases detected among 61 passengers who landed in the country from South Africa; Botswana identified four cases, all from foreigners who went to the country on a diplomatic mission and have already left the country; United Kingdom saw three cases, one of them in Chelmsford and the other in Nottingham being the third case from a traveler who is no longer in the country; Germany recorded three cases, two in the Bavarian region and one in the state of Hesse; Australia had two confirmed cases in Sydney; Denmark revealed two cases; Belgium reported one case; Hong Kong one case; Israel has one confirmed case and seven more suspected cases; Italy has one confirmed case; Czech Republic with one confirmed case in Liberec.
Against this background, it is said that Omicron will dominate the other variants. Consequently, some countries have already resumed blockades, fearing an avalanche of new infections.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced on Friday that the bloc (27 countries) will close its borders to flights from southern Africa.
Many countries, such as the United Kingdom, Japan, Israel, the United States of America, have announced that they will restrict air connections from South Africa and countries in the region.
However, for the European bloc it allows southern African citizens to enter its territory if they are in transit or on business.
For most countries the restrictions started this Monday.
The following is a list of countries that have banned flights and increased control measures:
Flight ban
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Czech Republic
- France
- Israel
- Philippines
- Morocco
- Bahrain
- Saudi Arabia
- Cyprus
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Canada
- Iran
- Egypt
- Brazil
- Greece
- Singapore
- Austria
- Malta
- Oman
- Thailand
- Qatar
- Hungary
- South Korea
- Mauritius
- Spain
- Kuwait
- Indonesia
- Rwanda
Increased control measures
- Japan
- India
- Taiwan
- Malaysia