‘Omicron’ was “present” in Europe 11 days before South Africa cases
THE NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM: The heavily mutated new coronavirus variant was in Europe several days earlier than previously known, health officials said Tuesday, and the number of countries where it has been found increased to at least 20, raising questions about whether the pandemic is about to surge once again.
The Netherlands’ National Institute for Public Health and the Environment said that samples taken on November 19 and November 23 – before the November 24 announcement of omicron’s existence -tested positive for the variant. Health officials have notified the two infected people and are doing contact tracing to try to limit the spread.
Mutations in the omicron variant strongly suggest that it is more contagious than previous forms of the virus, scientists say. They caution that they cannot be sure without more testing and data, but the evidence so far is sobering.
In South Africa, where the variant was first announced and is already widespread, reported new coronavirus cases have rocketed from about 300 a day in mid-November to about 3,000 a day, the fastest rate of increase in the world.
The variant has a very large number of mutations not seen in combination before, about 50, including more than 30 on the “spike” protein it uses to latch onto host cells; the spike is the primary target of the vaccines. That high degree of mutation is behind the fears about omicron, and the uncertainty over whether those fears are overblown.
Several times before, nations have relaxed their guard, thinking that the worst of the pandemic was behind them, only to be swamped by another wave – most recently the one caused by the highly contagious delta variant.
Vaccine makers are already looking into reformulating their shots to address omicron, a step that was not required for fighting delta.
Meanwhile, Face coverings will be made compulsory in shops and on public transport in England from next week, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.
Johnson confirmed the move in a press conference called after two cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus were detected in the UK.
The rules surrounding face masks were relaxed in England in July. The Prime Minister said hospitality will be exempt from the rule change, and further details will be outlined by the Health Secretary “in the course of the next day or so”.
Speaking at Downing Street on Saturday evening, he said: “On face coverings, what we’re looking at is retail and transport, just going back to a position where you have to wear them in retail settings or on public transport.”
The change comes after two cases of Omicron both linked to southern African were discovered in Essex and Nottingham. Meanwhile, vaccines specially adapted for the new Omicron coronavirus variant could be approved in three to four months if they are needed, the head of the EU’s drug regulator said on Tuesday. The decision on whether new shots are required would, however, have to be made by other bodies, European Medicines Agency Executive Director Emer Cooke said.
– INDIAN EXPRESS, THE HINDUSTAN TIMES, NDTV