Omicron: The latest from around the world on the new COVID variant | DW News

Scientists are racing to assess the threat from the new coronavirus variant Omicron. Cases have surfaced in several countries - including Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy and Australia. Dutch authorities have also confirmed 13 Omicron infections among airline passengers who arrived from South Africa – which first sounded the alarm. Governments around the world have imposed restrictions on travel from southern Africa. Scientists are still unclear how infectious Omicron might be, and whether current vaccines will remain effective.
Once again, it feels like the world is racing to catch up with the pandemic. The UK banned flights from southern Africa and still found omicron in its midst. The list of countries affected is growing while the research has just begun.
Germany was already facing its worst wave of infections. Now omicron has been found in travelers arriving from South Africa, threatening to put even more strain on the healthcare system.
Israel has certainly heard that wake-up call. With one confirmed case of the variant and several more suspected, it is shutting its borders to all foreign travelers for two weeks and phone surveillance technology will be used to keep track of infected people. They're the most drastic measures announced by any nation so far in the wake of this new development.

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[elizabethshannon]

I would like to know how so many covid-positive travelers managed to get on a plane to Amsterdam if you need a negative test less than 72hours old

[ravindersheoran]

There seems to be no end to this madness

[jimmyminutes]

I got Covid, my wine tasted like water. Never been so pissed. True story.

[kpepperl]

Travel ban to all foreign travel makes more sense than just banning travel from South Africa.

[drz]

It’s incredible… after more than a year and a half we have learn nothing. The madness and the terror setting is far from over.

[bonnierobinson]

Thank you South Africa for reporting quickly! God bless you!

[RS-hrmj]

Thinking about making Chipolata sausages with mash, peas and baked sweet potato, and onion gravy. White wine or red wine with it, what do you guys think?

[irenesmart]

Doctors in South Africa are saying at the.moment the people are recovering in 3 to 4 days without hospitalisation.

[KatlegoMmadi]

It's funny how US media houses are blaming South Africa for the variant but in actuality this variant originates in Belgium.😂😂 Even though this variant started in Belgium, South Africa was the first county to report it to the WHO!Thank God for our brilliant scientists who detected it before it got out of hand here in South Africa. 🤧And ohh by the way. Western Media is sickening. When will they stop lying about Africans? The did the same thing with Ethiopians issues just recently.

[arbogastkanyinga]

South Africa should not have raised the alarm, ...its a lesson to be learnt. The west should have praised SA for their efforts instead of misleading their own citizens in thinking Africa is the epicenter of covid-variants

[taetaeya]

Thanks south africa for quickly letting the world know about omicron. Not like that country (ya’ll know) who tried to cover it up initially and even arrested the doctors trying to sound the alarm.

[Mark-mlnv]

People know and accept the risk of travelling during a pandemic and then are “surprised” and angry. People grow up and take some responsibility. You’re still alive.

[MartinMenge]

South Africa keeps discovering new variants because it is a world leader in viral genomics. A capacity built in part due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other viruses that hit Africa disproportionally. The region is probably not even the origin of any of these variant. For one, the Omicron variant was first isolated from Diplomats in Botswana. Their samples were sent to Durban. The nationality of the Diplomats are being kept undisclosed.

[u-law]

I feel as though we've all been cast into a bad sci-fi movie that has too long of a runtime.

[joysimpson]

The South African doctor who treated early cases of the Omicron variant told the BBC countries could be "panicking unnecessarily" and the symptoms she had seen were "extremely mild".

[cazrart]

From Namibia with a husband in aviation. Prices (food & fuel) are soaring here, we are still living with a massive pay cut, we are being punished (tourism & aviation) for a bordering country being transparent. Dear God, how are we supposed to survive. 🤬 we have like 118 ACTIVE cases. Have under 20 new cases a day. How is this even fair.

[untouchablex]

Can’t wait for the “Omega Supreme” variant. More than meets the eye.

[rameshhansaravendra]

If people aren't afraid of dying, let them live

[nicholas]

Hearing my Trump-hating friends and family argue for closed borders and travel bans now is oddly refreshing

[tanvirkabir]

Wise men say 'Do not kill the messenger". In this day and age hardly any leaders understand that.