New Variant 'Omicron' Confirmed in at Least 13 Countries

On the 28th, to prevent the domestic influx of the COVID-19 variant 'Omicron' spreading across South Africa, the government banned entry from eight African countries. This is a view of Terminal 1 at Incheon International Airport.

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The new COVID-19 variant 'Omicron' has been confirmed in at least 13 countries. It is rapidly spreading mainly in Europe, with confirmed cases also reported in Australia and Israel.

According to foreign media on the 28th (local time), the countries where Omicron cases have been confirmed are South Africa, Botswana, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Austria, Belgium, Australia, Israel, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and Denmark, totaling 13 countries.

Compiling announcements from each country, the officially confirmed number of Omicron cases is about 110, with around 1,000 suspected cases. Among these, South Africa, identified as the origin, accounts for most cases with 99 confirmed infections and 990 suspected cases.

In the Netherlands, at least 13 of 61 passengers who tested positive after arriving from South Africa were confirmed to be infected with Omicron. In the UK, two people who had traveled to South Africa were infected with Omicron.

In Italy, the first infection case was reported in a person who had traveled to Mozambique for business, and in Austria, there is a case of Omicron infection despite full vaccination. In Belgium, a COVID-19 positive patient who traveled to Egypt via Turkey and returned on the 11th was confirmed to be infected with the Omicron variant.

In Germany, there are two Omicron cases in the southern state of Bavaria, and in the Czech Republic, a woman who returned after traveling to Namibia via South Africa and Dubai was found to be infected with the Omicron variant.

In Australia, two asymptomatic COVID-19 infected individuals who returned from South Africa were confirmed to have Omicron. Israel reported a traveler who returned after visiting Malawi was infected with Omicron. Currently, seven suspected Omicron cases have been identified, three of whom had no history of overseas travel.

In Hong Kong, the possibility of secondary infection has been raised. The first confirmed Omicron case was a traveler from South Africa, and a Canadian entrant quarantined in a room opposite the hotel was also infected shortly after.

The United States is also highly likely to have Omicron cases. Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to the White House and Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), appeared on NBC and said in response to the question, "Could Omicron already have landed in the U.S.?" that "I would not be surprised if that were the case." He added, "Although it has not yet been detected, since there are travel cases from countries like Belgium and Israel where infections have been confirmed, the spread of the variant is ultimately inevitable."

The emergence of the Omicron variant has led the world to lock down again.

Israel has completely banned entry of all foreigners for 14 days and decided to reintroduce anti-terror phone tracking technology. Israel is the first country to issue a total ban on foreign entry following the discovery of the Omicron variant.

The UK requires all incoming travelers to undergo PCR testing within two days and self-isolate until a negative result is confirmed. Additionally, those who have been in contact with suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate for 10 days, and mask-wearing is mandatory on public transport and in shops.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised travel alerts for eight countries?South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi?to the highest level 'Level 4: Very High.' The U.S. Department of State also plans to restrict travel to these eight countries starting on the 29th.

Singapore banned entry and transit from 11:59 p.m. the previous night for those who have visited South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, or Zimbabwe in the past two weeks.

Japan has required travelers from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Lesotho to quarantine in government-designated facilities for 10 days since the previous day, and from today, the same regulations apply to arrivals from Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia.

South Korea also began blocking entry of all foreigners arriving from the eight African countries where Omicron has emerged or neighboring countries?South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi?from 0:00 on the 28th.