As the newest COVID-19 variant winds its way around the globe, U.S. health officials said the ban starting Monday on most travelers who have been in southern Africa should buy time to assess any new risk https://t.co/umLJ4LBEBx pic.twitter.com/MK1GpYVtNv
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 29, 2021
If you’re reading this, you’re probably already doing as much as can be done to avoid an ‘OMG Omicron’ infection. The existing rules remain good advice: Get vaccinated, get boosters as necessary, mask up, stay socially distant, and avoid crowds as far as you can. Until scientists know more — which will take some days, if not weeks — the greatest impact will probably be on travellers who made plans for the year-end holidays. (Those who are once again going to be deprived of seeing loved ones have my sympathy, but that’s life during a pandemic… )
"#Fauci informed #POTUS that while it will take approx 2 more wks to have definitive info on the transmissibility, severity & other characteristics of the #OmicronVariant he conts to believe that existing #vaccines provide a degree of protection against severe" #COVID19 . https://t.co/b8DXmNEspA
— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) November 28, 2021
I was on TV this morning talking about #omicron and trying out different ways of saying “We don’t know yet” pic.twitter.com/8kFE0nYCWj
— Kai Kupferschmidt (@kakape) November 28, 2021
The federal workforce is showing that vaccine mandates work. Numbering more than 3.5M employees, federal workers met President Biden’s vaccination deadline w/ 92% getting at least 1 dose. The vax mandate was proof that more shots can be put into more arms https://t.co/05w34fXBZG pic.twitter.com/kdyy6vdL5V
— delthia ricks
(@DelthiaRicks) November 29, 2021
Dr. Fauci on Ted Cruz saying he should be prosecuted: "I should be prosecuted? What happened on January 6, senator?"
And on Republicans scapegoating him: "That's okay. I'm just gonna do my job, and I'm gonna be saving lives, and they're gonna be lying." pic.twitter.com/fJm1Hh8lSJ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 28, 2021
As of 8pm Sunday evening…
U.S. health officials have not imposed any new screening or tracing requirements in response to the newly discovered Omicron COVID-19 variant that prompted the Biden administration to restrict travel from southern Africa https://t.co/KKSSqahLv3 pic.twitter.com/m3p5iDBYuF
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 29, 2021
… No cases of the Omicron variant were identified in the United States as of Friday, the CDC has said. But infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said this weekend it was likely already in the United States.
The CDC said Friday it expects to identify the B.1.1.529 variant quickly if it emerges in the United States.
United currently operates five flights per week between Newark and Johannesburg. Delta operates three from Johannesburg to Atlanta…
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Dear media & COVID commentators: Omicron being discovered in multiple countries now that we are AWARE of its existence and are sequencing for it means it’s probably been spreading some timeThe spread ain’t the new phenomenon here, rather the UNCOVERING of the spread
https://t.co/Bp5TgiMgk3
— Fatima Tokhmafshan (she/elle)
(@DeNovo_Fatima) November 28, 2021
The Omicron coronavirus variant spread around the world, with new cases found in the Netherlands, Denmark and Australia even as more countries imposed travel restriction to try to seal themselves off https://t.co/LPnEykM6Oe
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 29, 2021
The World Health Organization says preliminary evidence suggests that the coronavirus omicron variant presents an increased risk of reinfection. South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla says the variant is linked to an “exponential rise” of cases.https://t.co/CG0dTqQ3UN
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 28, 2021
As of this AM, 131 #OmicronVariant cases were confirmed in 13 countries. pic.twitter.com/LAgrdfvkW7
— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) November 28, 2021
"Botswana’s government said Friday that the four B.1.1.529 cases reported last week actually originated with diplomats who visited from elsewhere." https://t.co/TXkg8VbokY
— Maryn McKenna (@marynmck) November 28, 2021
More than seven billion doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered, in at least 197 countries worldwide
Check the latest data where you live https://t.co/HFfBQggO76
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) November 28, 2021
China study warns of 'colossal' COVID outbreak if it opens up like U.S., France https://t.co/6bvp0CPFWv pic.twitter.com/hprSdtYlPG
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 28, 2021
S.Korea shelves plans to ease COVID measures due to high case count, Omicron https://t.co/lAmhvNIeAJ pic.twitter.com/3PdquN9JhG
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 29, 2021
Malaysians working in Singapore are holding joyful reunions with their loved ones after returning to their homeland following the partial reopening of a land border that has been shuttered for nearly two years due to the pandemic. https://t.co/4rEVetzZgo
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 29, 2021
Japan said it would shut its borders to foreign visitors to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, joining Israel in imposing some of the strictest border controls since the variant's discovery in southern Africa https://t.co/rXR8fuS8YI pic.twitter.com/5Y00q3gFrU
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 29, 2021
Philippines launches campaign to vaccinate 9 million people in three days https://t.co/q93ae1L9qu pic.twitter.com/qiAUN54Ggo
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 29, 2021
Australia will review its plans to reopen borders from Dec. 1, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, after the country reported its first few cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant https://t.co/BQ0pdSHMZF pic.twitter.com/7G4heXOtQJ
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 29, 2021
New Zealand to ease COVID measures this week despite Omicron threat – PM https://t.co/7ZfcIzI0GS pic.twitter.com/xE2k1nuY1B
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 29, 2021
… There were no cases of the Omicron variant in New Zealand at this stage but the developing global situation showed why a cautious approach was needed at the borders, she said.
“Omicron is a reminder of the risk that still exists at our borders,” Ardern said at the news conference.
New Zealand has some of the toughest border controls in the world and plans to keep borders closed to most international travellers for a further five months.
It also introduced fresh border measures for travellers from nine southern African nation on the weekend, announcing that only citizens from these countries can travel to New Zealand and will have to stay in state quarantine for 14 days…
New Zealand moves into a new “traffic light” system from Friday that rates regions as red, orange or green depending on their level of exposure to COVID-19 and vaccination rates. Auckland, the epicentre of the country’s Delta outbreak, will start at red, making face masks mandatory and putting limits on gatherings at public places.
New Zealand has had about 11,000 cases so far and 43 related deaths.
Covid: Israel to impose travel ban for foreigners over new variant https://t.co/IChe8YbxLi
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) November 28, 2021
Russia on Monday confirmed 33,860 Covid-19 infections and 1,209 deaths https://t.co/LbQDKfIxaf
— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) November 29, 2021
Portugal detects 13 cases of Omicron COVID-19 variant https://t.co/bP0QPRJyqN pic.twitter.com/7OkIEb2VuJ
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 29, 2021
Covid: Dutch police arrest quarantine hotel escapee couple https://t.co/8rI12YWvsp
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) November 29, 2021
Swiss voters appear set to approve legislation to introduce a special COVID-19 certificate that lets only people who have been vaccinated, recovered or tested negative attend public events and gatherings.https://t.co/lVPUCWZb2q
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 28, 2021
Frustrated by vaccine inequity, a South African lab is rushing to replicate Moderna’s shot. With help from the WHO & internat'l consultants, including from the US, Afrigen Biologics & Vaccines in Cape Town is developing a homegrown mRNA vaccine https://t.co/EHOwMaaOgR
— delthia ricks
African Covid Response: "In a region where women are responsible for family work and community relationships, they’ve stepped up to provide a collective authoritative voice, make and deliver supplies…"https://t.co/uSF8gWczRe
— Beth Bob (@BethBob2) November 25, 2021
Health officials Canada
“Today, the province of Ontario has confirmed 2 cases of the #OmicronVariant of #COVID19 in Ottawa, both of which were reported in indivs w/recent travel from #Nigeria…the patients are in isolation."https://t.co/AEV1G9ZwJ8
andhttps://t.co/oAnnhPZ5HY— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) November 28, 2021
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Here's a very good article on what we know and mostly don't know about omicron.
Take a minute or so to consider the amazing things described in it – sequencing RNA, growing the virus, tracking its ancestry. We would be in deep trouble without them.https://t.co/Xf3shlD84l
— Cheryl Rofer (@CherylRofer) November 27, 2021
Thermo Fisher says its COVID-19 tests accurately detects Omicron variant https://t.co/54LU6wpa7O pic.twitter.com/5EXa26D6Wi
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 29, 2021
#Pfizer said it can update its #COVID19 vaccine within 100 days if the #OmicronVariant is found to be resistant to its current vaccine.
The company expects to know within two weeks whether the variant is resistant.https://t.co/ArODnRQgy8
— MicrobesInfect (@MicrobesInfect) November 27, 2021
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NYC doesn't require vaccination, but makes it very hard to participate in public life without one. Hence the adult vax rate is nearing 90% and COVID mortality rate is very low. pic.twitter.com/l4m8OLVJJo
— John Arnold (@JohnArnoldFndtn) November 28, 2021
This tweet could've been worded better. Mace argues Biden should be more like DeSantis & drop mandates b/c getting Covid confers more protection than vaccines
2 issues: she overlooks Covid infections killing ~775k Americans & she's wrong about vaccines https://t.co/T61qptvW6d
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 28, 2021
Think positive… ‘miracles’ do happen, sometimes:
you don’t want to run ahead of this and no one should but that said the best end to this would indeed be some hyper contagious mutation that outcompetes everything else precisely because it’s evolved out all the horrific severity https://t.co/GEy9yO6I5T
— kilgore trout, uatx professor of turnip studies (@KT_So_It_Goes) November 27, 2021
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