Category: Infection
Community spread of Omicron in Israel – seven suspected infected, only four are travellers
The Israeli Health Ministry says there are currently seven people in Israel suspected of having contracted the Omicron coronavirus variant, in addition the one confirmed case announced yesterday. More...
UK: All travellers will require a PCR test and quarantine until negative to prevent spread of Omicron
At a press conference today, 10 Downing Street announced new measures to combat the potential spread of the Omicron variant in the UK. More...
Merck’s Covid-19 pill Molnupiravir only 30% effective in final analysis
The pharmaceutical company Merck said on Friday that in a final analysis of a clinical trial, its antiviral pill molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization and death among high-risk Covid patients by 30 percent, down from an earlier estimate of 50 percent. More...
Netherlands: “Dozens” infected with Covid on flights from South Africa
Dutch health authorities said that dozens of people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa on Friday are likely infected with COVID-19, and they are conducting further testing to see if people are infected with the recently discovered Omicron coronavirus variant. More...
Israel: four potential Omicron cases flew in from Malawi, Jordan
The South African Omicron variant was first discovered in Israel late Thursday night, according to reports released Friday morning by the Health Ministry.
Netherlands: Evening lockdown for three weeks from November 28th
All locations and events must close from 5 p.m. More...
B.1.1.529 named “Omicron” and designated a Variant of Concern by the World Health Organisation
“Based on the evidence presented indicative of a detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology, the TAG-VE has advised WHO that this variant should be designated as a Variant of Concern, and the WHO has designated B.1.1.529 as a VOC, named Omicron.” More...
Botswana: 4 Omicron cases detected this week were fully vaccinated
A press release from the Covid-19 taskforce of Botswana, outlining details of the first four cases of Omicron variant B.1.1.529 found in Botswana:
https://www.coronaheadsup.com/science/variants/nu/nu-variant-first-european-case-of-b-1-1-529-found-in-belgium-via-egypt-and-turkey/ More...
Europe declares Omicron variant B.1.1.529 a Variant of Concern
The ECDC has declared the recently discovered Omicron variant B.1.1.529 as a Variant of Concern in its latest bulletin. More...
Omicron variant: first European case of B.1.1.529 found in Belgium via Egypt and Turkey
A woman with coronavirus symptoms after a trip to Egypt with a stopover in Turkey is the first confirmed case in Belgium of a patient infected with the new variant B.1.1.529, known as ‘Omicron’, initially located by the scientific community in the Southern African countries. More...