TOKYO: Japan said on Monday it would close its borders to foreign nationals, as the world’s third-largest economy joins Israel in taking strong action against Omicron’s coronavirus, which the WHO says is a “high” global risk. waves.
Markets have calmed down as investors await further details of this divergence, after sinking last week for fear of bringing new alternatives, threatening economic recovery from the two-year violence.
Possibly more infected than the previous varieties, Omicron, which was first identified in southern Africa, was found in Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands and Scotland.
The Omicron variant is likely to spread around the world, causing “serious consequences” in some areas, the World Health Organization (WHO) advises 194 member states.
“The global risks associated with Omicron’s new variance are evaluated as extremely high,” said a global health organization, warning that understanding the severity of the variability could take weeks.
As a way to avoid a worsening situation, Japan will close its borders to foreigners from Tuesday, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, adding that he was ready to face criticism with extreme caution.
“These are temporary, alternative measures we are taking for security reasons, until there is clear information about Omicron’s diversity,” Kishida told reporters.
He did not say how long the law would last. The Japanese from other nations will face solitude, he added.
Although Japan has never revealed an infection with Omicron, Health Minister Shigeyuki Goto said it was conducting tests to determine whether the variant had infected a Namibian traveler who had been tested for the virus.
Israel, where the ban began at midnight on Sunday, has also vowed to use anti-terrorism surveillance technology to combat the new genocide.
Australia has said it will review plans to reopen borders for talented immigrants and students from December 1, after reporting its first cases to Omicron. A national security panel will convene later in the day, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, but added that it was “too early” to return a two-week hotel closure to foreign travelers.
“So we take this one step at a time, get the best information, and make calm and informed decisions,” Morrison said.
Omicron symptoms are very simple and can be treated at home, says a South African doctor, who is one of the first to suspect a different type, the doctor said.
TRAVEL NEWS BECAUSE OF OMICRON
The WHO has urged members to speed up vaccination of the most important groups and to intensify efforts to maintain essential health services, advising on a risk-based approach to improving global travel.
“Omicron has an unprecedented number of spike modifications,” he said, adding, “COVID-19 cases are expected and infection in vaccinated individuals, albeit small and predictable.”
Morocco has said it will shut down all foreign passenger flights for two weeks from November 29.
Singapore has postponed the start of vaccinated travel routes with other Middle Eastern countries, such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which are seen as travel destinations from affected countries, the Department of Health said.
A wealthy city in Southeast Asia and neighboring Malaysia have reopened their border, one of the busiest places in the world, to protect travelers, after being closed for almost two years.
India has ordered a test of COVID-19 at airports from Wednesday for all arrivals from ‘high-risk’ countries.
Britain, which has said it will convene an emergency meeting of G7 health ministers on Monday, will unveil a new guideline to extend the release of COVID-19 guns due to the rapid increase in Omicron infections.
Scotland has identified six cases in Omicron, it said on Monday, adding that public health officials were working to resolve the situation.
In the United States, President Joe Biden will provide new details of diversity and the US response Monday, the White House said.
South Africa has criticized travel restrictions as unfair and potentially dangerous to the economy, saying it was being punished for its scientific ability to detect alternatives in advance.