"US Not Yet Detected"... Spread to South America
Virus Sample Testing Increased 10 Times Compared to Early This Year
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced plans to expand surveillance of the COVID-19 Omicron variant and strengthen travel restrictions for incoming travelers to the United States. Concerns are growing that the Omicron variant, which is more transmissible than the existing Delta variant and may reduce vaccine effectiveness, could lead to the reinstatement of lockdown measures in various countries.
On the 30th (local time), CDC Director Rochelle Walensky stated at a White House COVID-19 briefing, "Due to concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant within the U.S., we are enhancing virus testing for international travelers arriving at four major airports to strengthen surveillance capabilities," adding, "We are also considering shortening the testing window for travelers entering the U.S. and, in some cases, adding quarantine requirements."
Earlier, U.S. health authorities announced on the 26th a ban on entry for non-citizens arriving from eight African countries, including South Africa, where Omicron cases were confirmed. Subsequently, on the 27th, the travel advisory for these eight countries was raised to the highest level, 'Do Not Travel.'
Although no confirmed Omicron cases have yet been detected within the U.S., the discovery of cases in Canada and Brazil has raised concerns about the variant spreading across both North and South America. The CDC is reported to have increased the number of virus sample tests from around 8,000 to 80,000, a tenfold increase, significantly enhancing its Omicron variant surveillance capabilities.
At the White House COVID-19 briefing, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), who also attended, said, "While 226 Omicron cases have been confirmed in 20 countries worldwide, none have yet been detected in the U.S. We are still monitoring the infection trends of Omicron, and due to the virus's molecular structure with multiple mutations, immediate action was deemed necessary, leading to the implementation of travel restrictions."
Although the exact risk and transmissibility of the Omicron variant remain unclear, fears are spreading as some analyses suggest it may weaken the effectiveness of existing vaccines. The previous day, Moderna CEO Steve Bancel stated in an interview with major foreign media, "Existing vaccines may not be as effective against the Omicron variant as they were against the Delta variant." Another Moderna co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Noubar Afeyan, also remarked in an interview with Bloomberg News, "We must acknowledge the serious threat posed by the Omicron variant."
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