The new variant Omicron seems to be wreaking havoc in the world now. What started off in South Africa, has already managed to reach 90 other countries. Till now, no data can surely state if the variant is less severe than the past variants. However, one thing is for sure. It is more contagious and has been known to dodge several vaccines.
WHO Asks All To Cancel Holiday Events To Stop Omicron Variant
WHO has urged people to take some meaningful steps to stop the spread in its track? This is that time of the year again, that leads to severe surges worldwide during the first wave and the second wave.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has asked global organizations to be vigilant. He even went on to say, that a canceled event is better than canceled lives. Many countries have started enforcing strict restrictions to stop the virus from spreading. The main way to do so has been to regularize travel.
More Developments on The Front
In the U.S. the variant Omicron is the dominant strain. It accounts for around 73 percent of infections there. President Joe Biden plans to address the nation today, but there will be no lockdown as reports are to be believed. Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top disease expert had earlier cautioned all that Christmas travel will increase the spread of the virus even further. He has been leading from the forefront when it comes to judging all the activities related to the pandemic. More than 80 nations are on the list of no-travel zones for Americans today. Europe is also amongst them. France and Germany have already imposed travel curbs today.
The Netherlands has imposed strict lockdown. This has been done to stop people from holidaying without any restrictions. In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is of the opinion that government needs to take a strict stance to resolve the spread of the virus in the holiday season. Till now, the union has not imposed any restrictions, but everybody is in a wait and watch mode.
Cancelation of New Year Celebrations
The New Year celebrations at London’s famous Trafalgar Square have also been canceled. It is being one, to ensure public safety. If there is a celebration, it will be hard to maintain discipline and stop a crowd. New Zealand has also delayed its international travel and flight ban lifts. It will stay on till the end of February 2022, at least.
Omicron was first detected in South Africa, this November. Moreover, it was classed as a variant of concern from the very beginning. Dr. Tedros has expressed concern at a recent press conference, too. He said it will be very foolish to underestimate the variant as a less concerning variant. He also said, that everybody is sick of the pandemic and wants to travel and spend time with friends and family. However, it may not be a reality sooner here.
Leaders of countries have to make difficult decisions again, in the wake of the surge in Omicron infections. Thus, he has urged repeatedly to cancel all events and occasions today. He also added some promising words, saying the pandemic could end in 2022 if everybody gets vaccinated without delay. But many people are reluctant to do so, He has also urged China, where it all started to let out more data on the origins of the virus. It will help to create future policies to work on for such pandemics. That is why everybody is looking at it now. So, everybody should keep their fingers crossed, in wake of the surging virus load across the globe.
