The World Health Organization has designated the new highly mutated Covid strain, named Omicron, as a 'variant of concern'. Health Secretary Sajid Javid expressed 'huge international concern' over the variant, though no cases have been detected in the UK so far.
The variant has been identified in South Africa, Botswana, Hong Kong, and Belgium. In response, the US, UK, EU states, Switzerland, and several other countries including the UAE, Israel, Japan, Kenya, and Singapore have imposed travel restrictions on seven African nations. The WHO has cautioned against travel bans but convened a special meeting to discuss the variant.
A top UK health official described Omicron as 'the most significant variant' to date, while an Oxford scientist told the BBC: 'It is bad news but it's not doomsday.' The variant carries around 25 to 32 spike mutations, far more than the typical five to ten seen in other strains.
Dr Ayoade Ala-kija, co-chair of the African Union's Vaccine Delivery Alliance for Covid, said the emergence of a new variant was unsurprising given the unequal distribution of vaccines. She criticised travel bans on southern African nations as 'shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted' and noted that countries like the UK and EU had not imposed similar bans on Belgium despite its confirmed case.
Separately, the Netherlands has introduced fresh restrictions due to a rise in Covid cases unrelated to Omicron. From Sunday, hospitality venues must close from 17:00 to 05:00, and amateur sports will cease during those hours. Secondary school students must wear masks. Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the country would be 'effectively closed between 5pm and 5am'.
