COVID-19 around the world: Israel bans foreigners while other countries tighten restrictions on Britons | world News

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Global concern about the coronavirus pandemic is growing, as a number of countries have detected confirmed cases of the Omicron variant for the first time.

Travel restrictions were also imposed again as governments suspended flights from South Africa, the region where this strain was first discovered.

Here is a look at the latest developments of COVID-19 around the world.

Photo: Israel is poised to become the first country to completely close its borders. pic file israel

On Saturday, Israel revealed plans to ban all foreigners from entering the country.

If the proposals are approved, it would become the first country to completely close its borders in response to the Omicron variant.

There are concerns that B.1.1.529 is more contagious than other variants – and more resistant to vaccines.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said the ban would last 14 days.

To date, Israel has one confirmed case of the Omicron variant, and seven suspected cases.

Phone tracking technology will be used to locate the new carriers, in an effort to prevent them from being passed on to others.

Image: Dr. Anthony Fauci wouldn’t be surprised if the Omicron variant was already in the US. US pic file

From Monday, the United States will restrict travel from South Africa and seven other countries in the region.

US citizens and US permanent residents – along with spouses and close friends – will be exempted.

No cases linked to Omicron have been detected in the country so far.

But Dr. Anthony Fauci, America’s top infectious disease specialist, told NBC he wouldn’t be surprised if an alternative was already in the US, adding: “When you have a virus that shows this degree of transmissibility … it’s basically going to be gone.” .

In separate developments, New York Gov. Cathy Hochhol issued a declaration of a “disaster emergency” for COVID-19 on Friday, as infections and hospitalizations increased in the state.

Photo: A business traveler from Italy discovered an Omicron on a trip to Mozambique. Italy pic file

On Saturday, health officials confirmed that a case of the Omicron variant had been detected in Italy.

The business traveler had flown in from Mozambique, landed in Rome on November 11 and returned to his home in Naples.

Five members of his family, including two children, also tested positive. They are all now in isolation and have mild symptoms.

Image: Two confirmed cases of the Omicron variant have been discovered in the southern state of Bavaria. Germany pic file

The Omicron variant was also detected in two travelers who arrived on a flight from South Africa on November 24.

Although the genome has not yet been fully sequenced, “it has been proven beyond doubt that this is a variant”.

Both cases were detected in the southern state of Bavaria, and another suspected case was detected in the west of the country.

Photo: Dutch officials are ‘almost sure’ the Omicron variant is in the Netherlands

Dutch health officials discovered 61 cases of COVID-19 among people who traveled from South Africa on Friday.

Although the Netherlands Institute of Health is “almost certain” that some of these patients have the Omicron variant, further testing is needed to be completely sure.

KLM Airlines has expressed surprise at the high number of cases because all passengers either tested negative or showed evidence of vaccination before boarding flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Authorities in the country are now trying to contact 5,000 passengers who traveled from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia or Zimbabwe since Monday.

Photo: Switzerland has banned direct flights from South Africa and the area around Switzerland

Quarantine requirements have been expanded to more travelers in an effort to stem the spread of the Omicron variant.

Arrivals from the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Egypt and Malawi will now be subject to stricter restrictions.

The Federal Office of Public Health said that passengers from these countries will need to submit a negative COVID-19 test and quarantine for 10 days as well.

Direct flights from South Africa and the surrounding area have already been banned.

Although cases have been detected in Italy and Germany, both neighbors of Switzerland, no travel restrictions have been imposed on any country with which it shares a border.

Photo: Spain cracks down on unvaccinated Britons entering Spain

From next month, British tourists will only be able to enter Spain if they can show proof of vaccination against the COVID-19 virus.

So far, unvaccinated travelers have been allowed into the country if they can submit a negative PCR test that took 72 hours before their arrival.

“The emergence of new variants that cause (coronavirus) imposes an increase in restrictions,” the government said.

Spain’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism said the nearly 300,000 Britons residing in Spain would not be affected by the new measures.

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