Omicron Plunges The World Into Collective Uncertainty

Vax Demand Up As Variant Cases Spread To 1/3rd Of US States; UK Gets Flak For Tightening Travel Rules; Senegal, Romania, Chile Report 1st Infections

The global pandemic re-sponse has transformed with dizzying speed since scientists in Botswana and South Africa, alarmed by dozens of mutations never seen before, started studying the Omicron variant. In just 36 hours, researchers analysed samples from 100 infected patients, collated the data and alerted the world, setting off new rounds of travel restrictions and adding uncertainty about the trajectory of a pandemic. Omicron has reached over 40 countries, although most of the cases so far have been found in arriving travellers. According to scientists in South Africa, Omicron appears to spread faster than any other variant, thanks to a combination of contagiousness and an ability to dodge the body’s immune defences.

Global concern has not waited for a fuller picture to take shape. The WHO acted with alacrity. Even before the WHO meeting was over, over 10 countries, including the US, had announced they would close borders to travellers from southern Africa. Japan, Israel and Morocco went a step furthering, sealing themselves off completely to foreigners. These curbs continue to grow.