Global spread of "Omicron"
Nigeria and Norway became among the latest countries to report cases of the new mutant, while Saudi Arabia confirmed the detection of the first case and said it was for a Saudi citizen coming from a North African country.
Germany, which is battling a rise in cases and deaths from Covid-19, said that tests confirmed that four people who were fully vaccinated were infected with the new mutation in the south of the country, but their symptoms were moderate.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said late Tuesday that the United States is moving to require all travelers entering the country by air to submit a negative test result for Covid-19, provided that the test is not more than one day before the date of travel.
Currently, international travelers who have received the vaccination can submit a negative test that was taken three days before travel.
The new test requirement that requires a negative result to be submitted one day before travel will apply to US citizens and foreign nationals.
Officials said the administration is also considering whether to require air travelers to take another test within three to five days of arrival.
While the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not confirmed this, it noted that it still recommends that “all travelers should be tested for COVID-19 three to five days after arrival” and “quarantine any traveler who has not been vaccinated.” upon arrival."
The US centers list about 80 foreign destinations as "level four", the highest level of transmission of Covid-19, and urged Americans not to travel to those places.
In Asia, Japan said it had already closed its borders to all foreigners and would extend the ban to foreigners residing from 10 African countries, including South Africa.
In South Korea, Minister of Interior and Safety Jeon Hye-chul called for tightening virus prevention measures to ward off Omicron, after suspected cases of the new mutant entered Nigeria.
South Korea, which records more than 5,000 cases of Covid-19 daily, has not detected any confirmed cases of the new mutant so far.
Analysts said global airlines are preparing for new disruptions as Omicron may force them to adjust travel schedules and destinations within a short time.
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