One week after South African authorities reported the existence of the highly mutated Omicron variant to the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 24, the new variant has managed to spread in 20 countries. Brazil and Japan were the last two countries to report cases of the new variant on Tuesday, while recent findings indicate the mutant coronavirus was already in Europe a week before South Africa sounded the alarm.
Latest reports said the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands found the Omicron variant in patient samples on November 19 and 23. WHO, however, clarified that while the two samples reveal Omicron was in the Netherlands earlier than thought, they do not predate the cases in Southern Africa. The variant was first found in a South African specimen collected on November 9.
The spread of the Omicron variant is being monitored closely around the world. Experts are eager to learn more as soon as possible how infectious and virulent is the Omicron variant. They want to know how well do the existing vaccines work against this variant.
From the Associated Press: “The World Health Organization warned Monday that the global risk from the Omicron variant is “very high” based on the early evidence, saying the mutated coronavirus could lead to surges with “severe consequences.” The assessment from the UN health agency, contained in a technical paper issued to member states, amounted to WHO’s strongest, most explicit warning yet about the new version that was first identified days ago by researchers in South Africa. It came as a widening circle of countries around the world reported cases of the variant and moved to slam their doors in an act-now-ask-questions-later approach while scientists race to figure out just how dangerous the mutant version might be.”
A WHO official warned that given the growing number of Omicron cases in South Africa and neighboring Botswana, parts of southern Africa could soon see infections skyrocket. “There is a possibility that really we’re going to be seeing a serious doubling or tripling of the cases as we move along or as the week unfolds,” said Dr. Nicksy Gumede-Moeletsi, a WHO regional virologist. Cases began to increase rapidly in mid-November in South Africa, which is now seeing nearly 3,000 confirmed new infections per day.
As countries put in place preemptive defenses and travel restrictions designed to keep the variant out, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said border control is crucial at this time to prevent the entry of the Omicron variant. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua told BusinessMirror that guarding the country’s borders will allow domestic economic activities to continue (Read, Neda chief: Border controls to cut Omicron risk vital now, in the BusinessMirror, November 30, 2021).
Chua said the government has set up a color-coding system that can be used to guard the country’s borders from potential travelers that could bring in the Omicron variant. Under this system, Green List countries include those classified by the IATF as “Low Risk” countries/jurisdictions/territories while those under the Red List are classified as “High Risk” countries/jurisdictions/territories. The Yellow List countries, meanwhile, are those countries/jurisdictions/territories classified by the IATF as “Moderate Risk.” Chua said the protocols associated with these classifications will help the country better prevent the entry of individuals who could be carriers of the Omicron variant.
We commend the government for its fast action in setting up a system to guard the country’s borders and screen travelers that could bring in the Omicron variant. We need to strengthen testing requirements for international travelers entering Philippine gateways, including both vaccinated and unvaccinated people. By acting swiftly and decisively, the preemptive moves we make now will save us from another possible round of lockdowns. Let’s prevent Omicron from entering the country at all costs.