European countries identify cases of the Ômicron variant

Two cases of the new Ômicron variant of the coronavirus were detected in the state of Bavaria, in southern Germany, said the Regional Ministry of Health on Saturday (27).

The two infected people entered Germany at Munich airport on Nov. 24, before Germany designated South Africa as a virus variant area, and are now isolated, the official said.

In Italy, a case of the Ômicron variant has been diagnosed, reported the National Institute of Health (ISS).

The genome was sequenced at the Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Virology and Bioemergency Diagnosis of Hospital Sacco, Milan, from a positive sample from a patient from Mozambique.

The patient and his family were in good health, the ISS said, adding that the sample sequence was in the process of further confirmation.

The UK has announced new measures today to try to slow the spread of the newly identified Ômicron variant. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said all newcomers to the country would have to undergo a test and that it was time to step up booster doses of the vaccine.

"We will require anyone entering the UK to take a PCR test at the end of the second day after their arrival and isolate themselves until they have a negative result," Johnson told a news conference.

He said that those who came into contact with people who tested positive for a suspected case of omicron would have to isolate themselves for 10 days and that the government would tighten rules on the use of masks.

The program to offer booster doses of the vaccine will also be stepped up, he added.

Speaking alongside Johnson, England's medical director Chris Whitty said there was a reasonable chance that the newly identified strain might be less easy to fight with vaccines.

"There is a reasonable chance that there is at least some degree of vaccine escape with this variant," Whitty said.

Earlier this Saturday, Health Minister Sajid Javid reported that two associated cases of the new omicron variant had been detected in the UK, associated with travel to southern Africa.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the State Department today (27) advised against travel to eight southern African countries after the White House announced new travel restrictions in response to the new Ômicron variant of covid -19.

The CDC raised its travel alert to Level Four: Too High for South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho, Eswatini and Botswana, while the State Department issued parallel "Do Not Travel" warnings on Saturday.

On Monday (22), the CDC had lowered its Covid-19 Travel Alert for South Africa to "Level One: Low."

Text translated using artificial intelligence.