Omicron represents a very high RISK: It also affects the younger ones! It is spreading in Europe at a tremendous rate – Topky

In some areas, an increase in positive coronavirus cases could have “serious consequences,” the WHO said in a technical report sent to 194 member states, quoted by Reuters today.

So far, 70 people have responded to the call after returning from abroad: ÚVZ begs Slovaks, take omicron seriously

Countries need to speed up vaccination and present a plan

The WHO called on its Member States to speed up the vaccination of high-priority groups and to report cases of omicron or clusters, as well as their proportion among the samples sampled. Given the expected increase in COVID-19 cases, the WHO has called on individual countries to put in place plans to mitigate the effects of this increase and keep health services functioning.

VIDEO Prime Minister Heger has already discussed a new variant of the coronavirus with Ursula von der Leyen

“Omicron has an unprecedented number of mutations in the spike protein, some of which are worrying about the potential impact on the trajectory of the pandemic,” stated by the WHO. “The overall global risk associated with the new omicron variant is rated as very high,” warned.

According to a WHO report, further research will be needed to determine the potential of omicron to bypass vaccine-induced immunity. WHO expects these data in the coming weeks. Cases of coronavirus infection can also be expected in vaccinated individuals, but on a small and predictable scale, the WHO report added.

It is spreading rapidly in Europe, the first cases being in Scotland and Portugal

A variant of coronavirus, now referred to as omicron, was first identified last week by researchers in South Africa. In recent days, it has been recorded by many other countries, including Europe and most likely the Czech Republic. In Slovakia, 70 people who have visited the Republic of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Israel, Hong Kong and the Seychelles have reported to the Public Health Office in the last two weeks.

Source: Getty Images

Omicron is spreading at literally rocket speed. Several countries have tightened entry conditions and reduced flights. The Scottish Government has also caught cases of the new variant today, confirming six cases. Four infections are in Lanarkshire, the other two in the Glasgow area. A total of 13 omicron cases were reported by Portugal today, all involving players and staff at the Lisbon Belenenses football team, Reuters reported.

It seems to be spreading in the community in Scotland

Some of those infected in Scotland have not traveled recently and have had to become infected in a community. Authorities in Scotland are looking for possible contacts from all six infected people and looking for where they may have come into contact with the new variant. In total, there are already nine cases of this variant in Britain. It was the first three cases seized over the weekend that forced Britain to tighten the rules for traveling to the country and to introduce mandatory masking.

“The Public Health Office is conducting a rigorous contact tracing. This will help us determine the origin of the infection and identify other individuals who may have become infected.” Scottish Health Minister Humza Yousaf said. He added that Scotland would require all passengers to undergo a PCR test within two days of arrival. This obligation will also apply to the vaccinated. “These measures will be implemented as soon as possible and compliance will be closely monitored.” added Yousaf.

Passengers must undergo PCR in the UK

All passengers entering the UK will have to undergo a PCR test from Tuesday and remain in quarantine until they receive the result. People who come into contact with people suspected of having omicron will be ordered to have a 10-day quarantine, whether or not they are vaccinated.

Belenenses did not finish Saturday’s Portuguese League match with Benfica Lisbon due to a lack of players. Belenenses lost 17 footballers and members of the execution team due to the coronavirus, but failed to request a postponement. According to the Portuguese health authority, the infection with the omicron variant was confirmed in the team today.

Due to the omicron ending variant in hospitals, even young people

Experts and authorities in South Africa have pointed out that the new option, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has called worrying, often affects young people. According to the AP agency, some of them also end up in intensive care units, said Rudo Mathivhaová, one of the local doctors.“We are now seeing a significant change in the demographic profile of patients with COVID-19,” Mathivha, head of the hospital’s intensive care unit in the Soweto district of Johannesburg, told a coronavirus press conference.

Most are not vaccinated or have only the first dose

“We get young people, people in their thirties and people in their twenties and thirties. Some are mild, others are serious and sometimes end up in the intensive care unit.” the doctor stressed. According to her, about 65 percent of patients are not vaccinated and most of the others received only the first dose of the vaccine.

South African Health Minister Joe Phaahl also pointed out the involvement of the younger generation with the omicron variant. “The new variant has been predominantly among young people, including the lowest vaccinations in the country. Only a quarter of people aged 18 to 34 are vaccinated in South Africa.” Phaahla said. “It’s a huge problem. We’re all very worried about (this variant of) the virus,” said AP Director of the African Medical Research Institute (AHRI) Willem Hanekom.

It is not yet clear whether omicron causes a more serious disease, according to the WHO

It is not yet clear whether a new variant of the coronavirus called omicron is more contagious or causes more serious disease compared to other variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This was announced by the World Health Organization (WHO). She called for “borders to remain open”. “Preliminary data suggest that the number of hospitalizations in the Republic of South Africa is increasing, but this may be due to the increasing total number of infected people as a result of a specific omicron infection,” stated by the WHO. However, she reiterated that preliminary data suggest that there may be a higher risk of reinfection with this option.

South African president criticizes border closures

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has also criticized the closure of borders and the disruption of air links with his country. “This is a clear and completely unjustified departure from the commitment that many of these countries made at the G20 meeting in Rome last month,” declared Ramaphosa. According to him, the travel ban is not based on scientific knowledge, nor will it be effective in preventing the spread of this option. The only thing that will cause, according to the South African president, will be further damage to the economies of the countries concerned, and this will further undermine the countries’ ability to respond to the pandemic.

Cases of the omicron variant and suspicion of it have appeared in several European countries – in the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, they also have suspicions in the Czech Republic and the first cases have been identified in Austria. Omicron has already appeared in Canada and Australia.

The new variant mutates quickly

Coronavirus outbreaks have begun to rise in South Africa this month in Gauteng, the country’s largest city, Johannesburg, as well as the metropolis of Pretoria. The South African National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) said the infection mainly affected people between the ages of ten and 29 in Pretoria. “In addition, the NICD has identified an outbreak in the 20-44 age group at the Pretoria Institute of Higher Education,” said Adrian Puren, the institute’s executive director earlier this week.

Reported daily outbreaks are still relatively low in South Africa. 2828 new cases were recorded on Friday. However, this is a significant increase in recent weeks, the AP noted. According to South African experts, the omicron variant is responsible for up to 90 percent of new cases, and according to the first findings of ongoing studies, each infected person is likely to transmit the virus to an average of two more people.

The new variant mutates rapidly, which scientists say may help it spread faster and bypass the response of the human immune system. The Republic of South Africa alerted her on Thursday and the WHO classified her the next day as worrying.