"Blocking Omicron, It's Already Too Late" [Correspondent Diary]

NYT Questions Effectiveness of Travel Restrictions
Fauci: "Omicron's Arrival in US Inevitable... Fifth COVID Wave Will Come"

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] "It's already too late." This is the assessment by The New York Times (NYT) regarding travel restrictions to block the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

On the 28th (local time), NYT introduced expert opinions suggesting that, just as last year's border closures were hardly helpful in preventing the initial spread of COVID-19, this time's travel restrictions may have come too late.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Andrew Pekosz, professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, estimated that Omicron has likely already spread worldwide. He said the situation over the next two weeks is crucial. Philip Chan, professor at Brown University, also advised, "Travel restrictions and caution are necessary."

The Washington Post also reported expert diagnoses that the response to Omicron was delayed. Nicole Errett, professor at the University of Washington, expressed concern, saying, "If you are issuing travel bans, it's already like the cat has escaped the bag." Professor Errett warned that travel restrictions would only temporarily slow the spread of Omicron.

Countries have implemented travel restrictions after confirming Omicron cases, but it seems insufficient to catch up with the virus's spread.

After the Omicron outbreak was announced, among 500 passengers arriving in the Netherlands on the 27th, 61 tested positive for COVID-19, and at least 13 of them were confirmed to be infected with Omicron. Omicron infections have also been confirmed in the UK, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Hong Kong, Australia, and others.

The United States will block travelers from Omicron-affected countries starting on the 29th. This decision was made on the 26th, when Omicron was first reported. There is a two-day gap on the 27th and 28th.

During this period, there are no restrictions on those arriving in the U.S. from Omicron-affected countries. To enter the U.S., travelers must have completed COVID-19 vaccination and submit a negative test result, but the emergence of Omicron surpasses these measures and raises a sense of crisis.

The U.S., especially New York, is highly alert. New York became a global COVID-19 "hotspot" early in last year's pandemic.

Governor Kathy Hochul of New York declared a state of emergency related to the Omicron variant on the 27th, a response stemming from last year's experience. Governor Hochul also predicted, "Omicron cases will soon appear in New York State."

The possibility of Omicron spreading in New York and nearby areas is palpable. Recently, the number of emails from my older child's high school has increased significantly. These emails notify about COVID-19 infections among school members.

There were four such emails just last week. There had been no emails about COVID-19 infections this month until notifications were sent on the 22nd, 23rd, 26th, and 27th, reporting a chain of COVID-19 cases. The sudden change was felt just as the emergence of the Omicron variant was announced.

My family and I also took COVID-19 tests out of anxiety. The results were negative, but what usually took a day took 2 to 3 days. The tests supported by the New Jersey state government had not returned results even six days after testing.

According to U.S. media, the surge in testing demand ahead of Thanksgiving, coupled with increased infections, has caused significant delays in receiving results. Confusion began even before Omicron's arrival was confirmed.

The fact that Omicron was announced right after Thanksgiving is also worrisome. Americans who could not spend last Thanksgiving with their families traveled to visit relatives this year.

President Joe Biden, who last year requested people to refrain from family gatherings during Thanksgiving, spent this year's Thanksgiving with his family on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts.

The environment is thus fully set for Omicron to spread rapidly.

Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), predicted in an interview with ABC on the 28th, "Omicron will inevitably hit the United States." In an interview with CBS the same day, he expressed concern, saying, "Probably a fifth COVID-19 wave is expected."

However, he emphasized, "The key is whether we are sufficiently prepared." This means that vaccination and booster shots for those already vaccinated are the only available measures.