In Nigeria, the first Omicron cases appeared in October. However, the new variant of the coronavirus has only now been detected in a subsequent sequencing, the health authority NCDC announced. They were travelers to Nigeria who had tested positive for corona and whose samples were collected in October. No further details were given. In addition, two current suspected cases were confirmed. Two people who came from South Africa last week tested positive for the Omikron variant. (01.12.2021)
USA want to tighten entry regulations before Christmas
According to a newspaper report, people who want to travel to the USA have to reckon with stricter testing requirements because of the Omikron variant. The US government is also considering a seven-day quarantine and additional mandatory tests a few days after arrival, reports the Washington Post. Some of the new rules can be found in a corresponding government draft that is to be published on Thursday. However, many points are still unclear.
It is practicable that every person arriving, regardless of their vaccination status, must be tested for Corona a maximum of 24 hours before departure. If, however, a request for a seven-day quarantine should come after arrival in the USA, it is still unclear whether and how this could be enforced. Even a mandatory second test after a two to three day stay can hardly be checked. About 200,000 people arrive in the United States every day. Some experts hope that it would be helpful if only around 50,000 of them adhered to the new rules.
The new set of rules is still in the drafting stage. However, it is expected to come into effect by mid-December at the latest. So just before the expected big wave of Christmas travel. The US government had only lifted the general entry ban at the beginning of November, giving at least fully vaccinated people the opportunity to visit the US again after a corona break of around one and a half years. (December 01, 2021)
Two Omicron cases discovered in Brazil for the first time
The first two cases with the new Omikron coronavirus variant were found in Brazil on Tuesday. It could also be the first ever case in Latin America. Samples from two Brazilians who tested positive for the Omikron variant by the renowned Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein would be sent in for a confirmatory laboratory analysis, according to a statement from the Brazilian health surveillance authority Anvisa on Tuesday. According to the news portal G1 they are Brazilian missionaries living in South Africa.
In the metropolis of São Paulo, the largest city in Brazil, the country’s first coronavirus case was registered in February 2020. According to official information, a total of more than 22 million people have become infected in Brazil. Almost 614,000 patients have died in connection with Covid-19 – only the USA has more deaths. Brazil has around 210 million inhabitants. Most recently, São Paulo declared itself the “vaccination capital of the world”. According to official information, the city has fully vaccinated all adult residents against the corona virus. (01.12.2021)
Minister Müller urges rapid vaccination in Africa
In view of the spread of the Coronavirus variant Omikron, the outgoing Federal Development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU) calls for a faster vaccination rate in Africa. “The Omikron mutation shows that it is now crucial to massively accelerate the global vaccination campaign,” said Müller of the Funke media group. Only seven percent of all Africans are fully vaccinated. “That is far too little,” said the CSU politician.
The world community must “do everything in its power” to vaccinate 40 percent of the world’s people by the end of this year. “That would also be a sign of global solidarity,” emphasized the CSU politician. A vaccine production “Made in Africa” is necessary for this. Germany is helping with almost 200 million euros in loans and grants to expand South Africa “into a production location for vaccine production for all of southern Africa”.
The 66-year-old CSU politician Müller is no longer a member of the newly elected Bundestag and is also giving up his ministerial office. He takes over the management of the UN Organization for Industrial Development (UNIDO). (December 01, 2021)
Moderna expects less effectiveness against the Omikron variant
The head of the US pharmaceutical company Moderna, Stéphane Bancel, reckons that the current corona vaccines are probably not as effective against the new Omikron variant. He also said it will be months before drug companies can manufacture new variant-specific vaccines on a large scale.
Because of the large number of mutations, he is currently not assuming the same effectiveness as the Delta variant, Bancel said Financial Times. “I think it’s going to be a significant drop. I just don’t know how much because we’re going to have to wait for the data. But all the scientists I’ve spoken to are of the opinion, ‘This is not going to be good.'”
The statements of the Moderna boss are already noticeable on the stock markets: Because of the renewed fear of a setback for the global economy, the Dax slipped significantly into the red. Wall Street is also facing a setback.
Not only could vaccines lose their effectiveness with Omikron, some Covid drugs may also have to be adjusted. The pharmaceutical company Regeneron announced that tests have shown that its antibody agent is becoming less effective with the new virus variant. Former US President Donald Trump had attributed his rapid recovery from Covid-19 to the drug. A drug from the Eli Lilly & Co company is apparently not as effective as other variants. Both remedies target the spike protein, which is where Omikron has a particularly large number of mutations.
The University of Oxford, partner of the vaccine manufacturer Astra Zeneca, sees no evidence of a lack of protection against serious disease courses at Omikron. The university also announced that the effectiveness of the vaccine developed with Astra Zeneca will be carefully examined in this regard. So far, there is only limited data on Omikron. However, should it be necessary, a new version of the vaccine could be developed quickly. (11/30/2021)
Athens puts older unvaccinated people under pressure with a monthly fine
In Greece, people over the age of 60 must be vaccinated at least once by January 16. Otherwise they face a monthly fine of 100 euros from then on. The Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakos announced on state television. “There is only one age group that insists on waiting: of the 580,000 unvaccinated citizens over 60 years of age, only 60,000 were vaccinated in November. And unfortunately it is precisely the over 60-year-olds who get sick and die,” said he.
Citizens cannot get out of the vaccination obligation: The state social security forwards the data of the unvaccinated to the tax office, which is then responsible for collecting the fine. The fines collected in this way are intended to benefit the hospitals. “This is not a punishment, but a health bonus – an act of justice,” said Mitsotakis.
In Greece, according to the EU health authority ECDC, 62 percent of the approximately eleven million inhabitants are fully vaccinated so far. The government categorically rules out a nationwide lockdown; instead, there have been numerous restrictions in public life for unvaccinated people since the beginning of November. The test is mandatory even when visiting the authorities, and unvaccinated people are excluded from fitness studios, restaurants and culture. (11/30/2021)