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The U.S. confirmed its first case of the omicron variant on Wednesday — an individual in California who had been to South Africa — as scientists all over the world raced to determine whether or not the brand new model of the coronavirus is extra harmful than earlier ones.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US’ high infectious illness professional, made the announcement on the White Home.
“We knew it was only a matter of time earlier than the primary case of omicron could be detected in the US,” he mentioned.
The contaminated particular person was recognized as a traveler who had returned from South Africa on Nov. 22, developed gentle signs and examined optimistic for COVID-19 on Monday. Researchers on the College of California, San Francisco obtained a pattern from the affected person Tuesday night and labored in a single day to assemble the genetic sequence.
The particular person, who had had the total two doses of the Moderna vaccine and wasn’t but due for a booster shot, is enhancing, California officers mentioned.
Fauci and different medical consultants strongly emphasised that People ought to proceed to get vaccinated and get their booster pictures. The vaccine has been confirmed to scale back the chance of extreme sickness and dying, and Fauci mentioned it’s affordable to consider it’ll supply safety towards the omicron variant.
The gentle nature of the California particular person’s an infection “is an affidavit to the significance of the vaccinations,” mentioned California Well being Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly.
All the person’s shut contacts have been reached and have examined detrimental, officers mentioned. The affected person, who agreed to stay in quarantine, was recognized solely as being between 18 and 49.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed confidence within the state’s efforts to regulate the virus and mentioned he doesn’t anticipate imposing one other stay-at-home order or different shutdown measures.
A minimum of 23 different international locations have reported omicron infections since South African authorities first recognized the variant every week in the past — an announcement that led the U.S. and plenty of different nations to virtually instantly bar airline travellers arriving from southern Africa.
In South Africa, new circumstances of COVID-19 practically doubled in a single day to virtually 8,600, authorities reported Wednesday, and the nation’s Nationwide Institute for Communicable Ailments mentioned omicron has overtaken the delta variant amongst samples now being analyzed on the genetic degree.
On Wednesday, the World Well being Group warned that blanket journey bans are complicating the sharing of lab samples from South Africa that would assist scientists perceive the brand new variant.
What’s occurring throughout Canada
- Saskatchewan provides recommendation on gathering for the vacations safely.
- 8 travellers from omicron variant-barred international locations in N.B., province says.
- N.L. registers 2 new circumstances; supply of infections beneath investigation.
What’s occurring all over the world
As of Wednesday, greater than 263 million circumstances of COVID-19 had been reported worldwide, based on the case-tracking database maintained by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins College. The reported world dying toll stood at greater than 5.2 million.
In Africa, Nigeria is now requiring all federal authorities staff to be inoculated or current a detrimental COVID-19 check outcome executed within the final 72 hours. With the vaccine mandate taking impact on Wednesday, there have been chaotic scenes at a number of workplaces within the nation’s capital as civil servants and not using a vaccination card or a detrimental PCR check have been turned away by safety brokers.
PHOTOS | Mandate takes impact for civil employees in Nigeria:
Within the Americas, well being officers on Wednesday confirmed Brazil’s third identified case of the omicron variant as the federal government examined attainable new measures to include the virus, similar to suspending some flights and requiring arriving passengers to point out proof of vaccination.
In Europe, Greek lawmakers have authorised laws making vaccination obligatory for all residents older than 60. That age demographic now has till Jan. 16 to get their first jabs or face fines of 100 euros ($145 Cdn) for each month they continue to be unvaccinated.
In Asia, Lebanon has declared a nighttime curfew for the unvaccinated forward of and throughout the vacation seasons. Its well being minister on Wednesday referred to as it one of many measures to stem a latest rise in coronavirus infections and a precaution towards the brand new variant.
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