Britain, Germany and Italy detected cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant on Saturday and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new steps to contain the virus, while more nations imposed restrictions on travel from southern Africa. The discovery of the variant has sparked global concern, a wave of travel bans or curbs and a sell-off on financial markets on Friday as investors worried that Omicron could stall a global recovery from the nearly two-year pandemic. Israel said it would ban the entry of all foreigners into the country and reintroduce counter-terrorism phone-tracking technology to contain the spread of the variant. The two linked cases of Omicron detected in Britain were connected to travel to southern Africa, British health minister Sajid Javid said. Johnson laid out measures that included stricter testing rules for people arriving in the country but that stopped short of curbs on social activity other than requiring mask-wearing in some settings. “We will require anyone who enters the UK to take a PCR test by the end of the second day after their arrival and to self-isolate until they have a negative result,” Johnson told a news conference. People who had come into contact with people testing positive for a suspected case of Omicron would have to self-isolate for 10 days and the government would tighten the rules on wearing face coverings, Johnson said, adding the steps would be reviewed in three weeks. The health ministry in the German state of Bavaria also announced two confirmed cases of the variant. The two people entered Germany at Munich airport on November 24, before Germany designated South Africa as a virus-variant area, and were now isolating, said the ministry, indicating without stating explicitly that the people had travelled from South Africa. In Italy, the National Health Institute said a case of the new variant had been detected in Milan in a person coming from Mozambique. Czech health authorities also said they were examining a suspected case of the variant in a person who spent time in Namibia. Omicron, dubbed a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization, is potentially more contagious than previous variants of the disease, although experts do not know yet if it will cause more or less severe Covid-19 compared to other variants. England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Witty said at the same news conference as Johnson that there was still much uncertainty around Omicron, but “there is a reasonable chance that at least there will be some degree of vaccine escape with this variant”. The variant was first discovered in South Africa and has also since been detected in Belgium, Botswana, Israel and Hong Kong. The Dutch authorities said 61 of around 600 people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa on Friday had tested positive for Covid-19. Health authorities were carrying out further tests to see if those cases involved the new variant. One passenger who arrived from South Africa on Friday, Dutch photographer Paula Zimmerman, said she tested negative but was anxious for the days to come. “I’ve been told that they expect that a lot more people will test positive after five days. It’s a little scary the idea that you’ve been in a plane with a lot of people who tested positive,” she said. Financial markets plunged on Friday, especially stocks of airlines and others in the travel sector. Oil prices tumbled by about $10 a barrel. It could take weeks for scientists to understand fully the variant’s mutations and whether existing vaccines and treatments are effective against it. NN: NN i know you know i told you so. But that is our job. You expect us to see the future. If not we would be little more then The Wall Street (bullshit) Journal that tells you what happened and PRETENDS they got their first. This week will be important to us. Paid Staff from Washington DC to New York, London, Belgium, Spain, France, Israel and Gibraltar are on RED ALERT.
the Botswana variant out of Africa again
SOUTH AFRICA has been placed back on the red list as a deadly variant of coronavirus spreads across the country, – but now the Botswana variant has reached the UK. A new coronavirus variant has seen South Africa placed back on the UK’s red travel list with fears the variant has the potential to thwart immunity from vaccines or previous infections. The B.1.1.529 Covid variant – also known as the Botswana variant – has only been seen in a handful of cases so far, but the potential to evade immunity has seen it dubbed the “worst we’ve seen so far” by officials. Caes have increased quickly across South Africa, prompting the UK Government to place the country back on the red travel list. Approximately 500 to 700 people arrive in the UK from South Africa each day, however with Christmas nearing this number is expected to grow. Anyone who has arrived in the UK from South Africa over the past 10 days will be invited to take a Covid test. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said flights from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe will be suspended from midday on Friday. He said all six countries will be added to the red list, and from 4am on Sunday anyone arriving to the UK from those countries will be required to isolate in hotels. NN: Things are happening fast. My guess is they realize they fucked up big time. One possibility is this mutation will burn itself out fast. We calculate the infection rate. The original virus saw 1 person infecting 3 people. The delta virus score 8 people infected from 1 individual. The most contageous virus till now small pox 1 person infected 15 people. The new corona virus mutation The B.1.1.529 Covid variant may be 50. Meaning 1 person infects 50
UK confirms 2 Omicron COVID cases….. First suspected Omicron case found in Germany, Czech Republic
https://youtu.be/Jc0yPIUQrOs
The new Omicron variant of COVID-19, which is believed to be more transmissible, has been detected in the United Kingdom, Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced. One of the cases was confirmed in Chelmsford and another in Nottingham and both individuals were ordered to self-isolate. “This pandemic is far from over. If there’s one thing that everyone can be doing, is if they’re eligible, please take your vaccine,” the health minister said. There seems to be a connection between the two infections and both are liked to southern Africa, according to Javid. The announcement comes after Downing Street added multiple African countries to its red travel list.
First suspected Omicron case found in Germany, Czech Republic
The second case of the Omicron coronavirus variant has suspectedly appeared in Europe as both Germany and the Czech Republic have reported African travelers positive for the virus. “Omicron variant has, with a very high degree of likelihood, already arrived in Germany,” said Kai Klose, a German minister in the state of Hesse. Klose noted that the individual has an infection with “multiple mutations typical of Omicron.” The Czech Ministry of Health also announced that a passenger arriving from Egypt tested positive for, what is believed to be the new virus strain. Both samples are being further investigated. NN: you cant find what you are not looking for, in the US its worse. They don’t want to look…. The government does virtually no DNA sequencing of cronavirus samples. What little is done is mostly privately funded by universities and drug companies. And big Pharama reguards testing results as trade secrets. Scientists sign non disclosure agreements. And any release of studies are rarely peer reviewed and heavily redacted….
Delta, United not Cancelling South Africa flights amid variant concerns
https://youtu.be/L-wkq9Mzn74
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Delta Air Lines and United Airlines said on Friday they do not plan any changes to their South Africa-U.S. routes after the White House said it plans to impose new travel curbs on southern Africa starting Monday amid concerns about a new COVID-19 variant. Delta and United are the only U.S. passenger carriers that have direct flights to southern Africa. Delta currently operates service between Johannesburg and Atlanta three times weekly and the U.S. airline said “there are no planned adjustments to service at this time.” The White House said it plans to bar entry to most non-U.S. citizens who have been in South Africa and seven other African countries within the last 14 days. Airlines for America, a trade group representing major U.S. passenger and cargo carriers, said Friday it remains “in communication with the U.S. government as specifics remain unknown at this time and there are many unanswered questions. Amid this rapidly evolving situation, it is critical that U.S. government decisions regarding international travel restrictions and requirements be rooted in science.” United said it “remains committed to maintaining a safe and vital link for essential supplies and personnel to transit between the African continent and the United States as feasible. We don’t have any adjustments to our schedule at this time.” United currently operates five flights per week between Newark and Johannesburg and reiterated Friday it plans to restart service between Newark and Cape Town on Dec. 1 as scheduled. NN: what fuckers. The airlines are still flying not cancelling any flights to Africa. Worse yet they are still booking flights. But let me show you how corrupt the system is. All international passengers are suppose to have a green vaccination pass and present a negative test 24 hours before flying. Rotterdam airport instituted emergency testing on landing. And a KLM flight from S,Africa to their surprise were full of infected people. 61 passengers tested positive. How is that possible. Answer desperate airlines really are not doing the proper screening. Welcome to my world.
Dutch find 61 COVID cases among South Africa passengers, looking for new variant
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Dutch health authorities said on Saturday they had detected 61 COVID-19 cases among people who flew from South Africa on Friday and were now conducting further testing to see whether any are infected with the recently discovered Omicron variant. The cases were discovered among around 600 passengers who arrived at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on two flights on Friday before the Dutch government halted air traffic from southern Africa due to concerns over the variant. The passengers from the flights were kept separated from other travellers and those that tested positive are being kept in isolation at a hotel near the airport. A spokesperson for the Dutch health ministry said it would not be known until later Saturday whether any of passengers are infected with the new variant. A spokesperson for KLM, the Dutch arm of Air France, said the airline was trying to determine what rules were in place as of Friday morning to prevent people with COVID-19 infections from boarding the flights, which departed from Cape Town and Johannesburg. Rules on the company’s website said passengers had to present a negative COVID-19 “rapid antigen” test result taken 24 hours before departure but were not required to show proof of vaccination. A spokesperson for the health authorities in Kennemerland, the Dutch region that oversees Schiphol, said the positive cases were being analysed by the National Institute for Health (RIVM). The new variant has been detected just as many European countries are grappling with a surge in coronavirus cases.The Dutch government on Friday announced nighttime closure of bars, restaurants and most stores as it tries to curb a record-breaking wave of COVID-19 cases that is swamping its healthcare system. NN: How stupid we have learned nothing… Shut her down. Every passenger plane should be immediately grounded. All the progress made has been lost. Million will needless die. This is the second mutation Africa has given mankind……
Equities, oil prices, U.S. Treasury yields all drop on COVID variant fears
WASHINGTON/LONDON (Reuters) – Shares tumbled on Wall Street on Friday as they reopened after Thanksgiving, while European stocks saw their biggest sell-off in 17 months and oil prices plunged by $10 per barrel as fears over a new coronavirus variant sent investors scurrying to safe-haven assets.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday designated a new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa with a large number of mutations as being “of concern,” the fifth variant to be given the designation.
Unofficially, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 2.53% at 34,899.34 in its largest percentage drop in more than a year. The S&P 500 lost 2.27%, its worst one-day drop since Feb. 25, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.23%, the biggest one-day route in two months. U.S. markets closed early on Friday after being shut all day on Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday. The benchmark STOXX 600 index ended 3.7% lower on the day, leaving it down 4.5% for the week. The volatility gauge for the main stock market hit its highest in nearly 10 months. Companies that had benefited from an easing of COVID-related restrictions this year, including AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC), plane engine maker Rolls Royce (LON:RR), easyJet (LON:EZJ), United Airlines and Carnival (NYSE:CUK) Corp all fell. Retailers dropped as Black Friday, the start of the holiday shopping season, kicked off as the new variant fuelled concerns about low store traffic and inventory issues. In Europe, the travel and leisure index plummeted 8.8% in its worst day since the COVID-19 shock sell-off in March 2020. “Bottom line is this is showing that COVID is still the investor narrative, a lot of today’s movement is driven by the South African variant,” said Greg Bassuk, chief executive officer of AXS Investments in Port Chester, New York. “We have been talking about four or five factors that have been driving the last couple of months’ activity – inflation fears, some economic data, Fed policy – but what we have seen over the last year is that big developments with respect to COVID really have ended up eclipsing some of those other factors by a substantial degree and that is what is driving today’s market activity.”
Little is known of the variant detected in South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong, but scientists said it has an unusual combination of mutations and may be able to evade immune responses or make the virus more transmissible.
Britain said the new variant was the most significant variant to date and was one of several countries to impose travel restrictions on southern Africa. The European Commission also said it wanted to consider suspending travel from countries where the new variant has been identified, though the WHO cautioned against hastily imposing such restrictions. Malaysian rubber glove maker Supermax, which soared 1500% during the first wave of the pandemic, leapt 15%. MSCI’s index of Asian shares outside Japan dropped 2.44%, its sharpest fall since late July. In commodities, oil prices plunged. Gold prices reversed earlier gains seen amid the move away from riskier assets. U.S. crude was last down 12%, at $69.02 per barrel by 1:21 p.m. EST (1812 GMT). Brent crude dropped 10.5% to $73.59. Spot gold prices were down 0.09%. As investors dashed for safe-haven assets, the Japanese yen strengthened 1.87% versus the greenback, while sterling was last trading at $1.3331, up 0.08% on the day. The dollar index fell 0.757%, with the euro up 1% to $1.1318. U.S. Treasury debt yields posted their sharpest drop since the pandemic began. Treasuries benchmark 10-year notes last rose to yield 1.4867%. The 2-year note last rose to yield 0.4941%, from 0.644%. [US/] “A flight to safety is underway with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield down,” said Keith Lerner, co-chief investment officer at Truist Advisory Services. “The proximate cause of the sell-off is yesterday’s announcement of a new COVID-19 variant in South Africa, which investors fear could weigh on economic growth.” The market swings come against a backdrop of already growing concern about COVID-19 outbreaks driving restrictions on movement and activity in Europe and beyond. Markets had previously been upbeat about the strength of economic recovery, despite growing inflation fears. Equities, oil prices, U.S. Treasury yields all drop on COVID variant fears. NN: As you know we got out of the market on Friday… with nice profits. When your in a trade and get a gift take it. And when i do not clearly see the future in a market i step aside. Two times this happens. When i stand aside waiting for the velocity break out to run its course. And when i am not clear what a market will do. No doubt the mutation i long feared is upon us,,,, Tom Lee featured in the above video is one of the popular cheer leaders of wall street and he is going to make us a lot of money. he is one of these buy when the market goes up because its going higher and buy on the “dips” a buying opportunity because the market is going higher…. its buy Buy BUY until the millennials money goes bye BYE!
South Africa says travel bans over new variant unjustified
- South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla said that new travel restrictions amid concerns over a heavily mutated Covid variant are “unjustified.”
- He slammed other nations for “wanting to put blame” and ascribe the variant to South Africa rather than working collaboratively to address the situation as guided by the WHO.
- Phaala said preliminary studies suggest the variant may be more transmissible due to is genetic composition but noted that vaccines are still effective in preventing severe Covid-19 from the variant.
South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla said Friday that other countries’ decisions to impose travel restrictions amid concerns over the detection of a heavily mutated variant of Covid-19 in his country is “unjustified.”
“The kind of knee-jerk reaction, it really doesn’t make sense,” Phaahla said at a media briefing, adding that travel bans violate the norms and standards of the World Health Organization. NB: WTH.. the most deadly plague in a century and the fuck ups in South Africa have not vaccinated their population.. and i am told they let millions of vaccines spoil. NOW the fuckers that they have become the incubater for two more deadely variations that have killed million are upset by the travel bans…. Ang get thos the WHO agrees… We have no leadership… Just sold oyt cronies bough and paid for. If their was real leadership ALL as in ALL avaition should be haulted for two weeks while scientests astertain how big a probem we have…
He slammed other nations for “wanting to put blame” and ascribing the variant to South Africa rather than working collaboratively to address the situation as guided by the WHO.
“Covid-19 is a global health emergency. We must work together, not punish each other,” Phaahla said. “Witch hunts don’t benefit anyone. South Africa wants to be an honest player in the world, to share health info not just of benefit to South Africans and citizens of the world.”
The new variant, known as B.1.1.529, has been detected in small numbers in South Africa. The WHO on Friday assigned the Greek letter Omicron to the variant.
Phaala said preliminary studies suggest the variant may be more transmissible due to is genetic composition but noted that vaccines are still effective in preventing severe Covid from the variant.
Reports on Friday morning said cases of the new variant have been found in Israel, Hong Kong and Belgium.
Earlier Friday, the WHO urged countries not to hastily impose travel bans linked to the new variant of the virus, saying they should take a “risk-based and scientific approach,” Reuters reported.
However, several European and Asian nations have already reacted by imposing temporary travel bans on southern Africa.
On Friday, a committee of health experts from all 27 EU states “agreed on the need to activate the emergency break & impose temporary restriction on all travel into EU from southern Africa,” the Slovenian presidency of the EU said on Twitter.
The United Kingdom also announced Thursday it would temporarily suspend flights from six African countries, including South Africa, starting midday Friday. The decision was made without prior discussion with South Africa, Phaahla said.
Deputy Health Minister Sibongiseni Dhlomo said at the media breifing he believes indications are that the U.S. will divert from other nations and not impose a travel ban.
Earlier Friday, White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN’s “New Day” the U.S. will speak with scientists from South Africa to “get the facts” on the new variant. Fauci said the U.S. is in “very active communication” with South African scientists to
The coronavirus The O variant the devil you don’t know BARK BARK BARK
The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) is an independent group of experts that periodically monitors and evaluates the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and assesses if specific mutations and combinations of mutations alter the behaviour of the virus. The TAG-VE was convened on 26 November 2021 to assess the SARS-CoV-2 variant: B.1.1.529. The B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to WHO from South Africa on 24 November 2021. The epidemiological situation in South Africa has been characterized by three distinct peaks in reported cases, the latest of which was predominantly the Delta variant. In recent weeks, infections have increased steeply, coinciding with the detection of B.1.1.529 variant. The first known confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on 9 November 2021.
This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning. Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other VOCs. The number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all provinces in South Africa. Current SARS-CoV-2 PCR diagnostics continue to detect this variant.
Several labs have indicated that for one widely used PCR test, one of the three target genes is not detected (called S gene dropout or S gene target failure) and this test can therefore be used as marker for this variant, pending sequencing confirmation. Using this approach, this variant has been detected at faster rates than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this variant may have a growth advantage.
There are a number of studies underway and the TAG-VE will continue to evaluate this variant. WHO will communicate new findings with Member States and to the public as needed. 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 VOC, and the WHO has designated B.1.1.529 as a VOC, named Omicron.
As such, countries are asked to do the following:
- enhance surveillance and sequencing efforts to better understand circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants.
- submit complete genome sequences and associated metadata to a publicly available database, such as GISAID.
- report initial cases/clusters associated with VOC infection to WHO through the IHR mechanism.
- where capacity exists and in coordination with the international community, perform field investigations and laboratory assessments to improve understanding of the potential impacts of the VOC on COVID-19 epidemiology, severity, effectiveness of public health and social measures, diagnostic methods, immune responses, antibody neutralization, or other relevant characteristics.
Individuals are reminded to take measures to reduce their risk of COVID-19, including proven public health and social measures such as wearing well-fitting masks, hand hygiene, physical distancing, improving ventilation of indoor spaces, avoiding crowded spaces, and getting vaccinated.
For reference, WHO has working definitions for SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Interest (VOI) and Variant of Concern (VOC).
A SARS-CoV-2 VOI is a SARS-CoV-2 variant:
- with genetic changes that are predicted or known to affect virus characteristics such as transmissibility, disease severity, immune escape, diagnostic or therapeutic escape; AND
- that has been identified as causing significant community transmission or multiple COVID-19 clusters, in multiple countries with increasing relative prevalence alongside increasing number of cases over time, or other apparent epidemiological impacts to suggest an emerging risk to global public health. BARK BARK BARK BARK
NY declares state of emergency over new COVID variant….. Australia may expand COVID restrictions if needed – official….
US will restrict travel from southern Africa – WH
The United States will impose travel restrictions on eight countries in southern Africa due to the emergence of the Omicron coronavirus variant, senior US government officials told domestic media on Friday. South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi will be impacted by the measure that will be enforced on Monday, November 29. Earlier, White House officials revealed that US President Joe Biden received a briefing on the matter.
A flood of covid patients causes ‘almost unmanageable strain’ in Michigan as cases rise nationwide