New Coronavirus News from 2 Dec 2021

From foundational discoveries to profound impact | Penn Today [Penn Today, 2 Dec 2021]

How decades of mRNA research at Penn made powerful new COVID-19 vaccines possible—and opened a new vista for future discoveries.

Most biomedical researchers spend their days in quiet anonymity, patiently enduring months or years of costly exploration before striking gold. For Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó, this was certainly the case for the majority of their scientific careers. Even after making a series of discoveries that transformed messenger RNA (mRNA) into a viable vaccine platform more than 15 years ago, they flew under the radar.

Then came COVID-19.

Without the mRNA technology foundation laid by Karikó and Weissman, the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines being deployed across the world would not exist. Now, the researchers are receiving global acclaim, not just for their role in providing hundreds of millions of vaccines doses amidst a pandemic, but also for the boundless potential they unleashed to tackle other diseases now and in the future.

When they contemplate the false starts and adversity they weathered to get to this point, they can only marvel at the direction life has taken.

Laying the groundwork
Born and raised behind the Iron Curtain in a small town in Hungary, Karikó, now a BioNTech executive and adjunct professor of neurosurgery at the Perelman School of Medicine, could give a master class in resilience. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1985 in search of professional advancement, having developed a singular focus on unleashing the power of mRNA to fight disease.

In the early 1990s, researchers were quickly developing a more nuanced understanding of how the body uses mRNA to instruct cells on which proteins to make to remain alive and healthy. Karikó reasoned that by altering this mRNA, she could create proteins with vast therapeutic potential, from enzymes that reverse disease to antibodies that fight infection.

She spent the majority of the 1990s applying for government and corporate grants that would give her the chance to translate hypotheses into results. After years of rejected applications, she decided to press on despite limited funding. In 1997, she met Weissman, a gifted immunologist who had recently joined the faculty at Penn fresh out of a fellowship under the supervision of Anthony Fauci at the National Institutes of Health. They struck up their first conversations at Penn by the copy machine where both were printing personal copies of journal articles to keep up with their distinct, but soon to overlap, fields.

While Karikó was laser-focused on therapeutic applications for mRNA, Weissman, who currently serves as the Roberts Family Professor of Vaccine Research at the Perelman School of Medicine, has always directed his energies toward applying mRNA research to vaccine development and gene therapy.

After they first crossed paths, Karikó agreed to create mRNA for Weissman, who needed it to develop vaccines for diseases like HIV. In return, Weissman introduced her to immunology. Each provided expertise the other lacked, and the result was nothing short of revolutionary.

“I always wanted to alter mRNA to make it therapeutic,” Karikó says, “but working shoulder to shoulder with Drew, I ended up laying the groundwork for mRNA vaccines instead.”

The breakthrough
In retrospect, the road to success was strewn with roadblocks and detours. By 2000, Karikó and Weissman hit a major obstacle in their joint research effort. Rather than reaching its target cells and instructing them to make proteins, the modified mRNA they created was triggering an inflammatory cytokine production in cultured human immune cells.

We’re only beginning to discover all the ways we can use mRNA. At Penn and beyond, there is so much more to come. Drew Weissman, the Roberts Family Professor of Vaccine Research at the Perelman School of Medicine

Each strand of mRNA is made up of four different molecular building blocks called nucleosides. In 2005, Weissman and Karikó recognized that in the synthetic version of mRNA, a building block called uridine was triggering the inflammatory response that rendered the mRNA useless. By replacing it with a slightly altered version, they were able to avoid inflammation altogether. In 2015, they added to their discovery by developing a delivery technique that uses lipid nanoparticles to package the mRNA in a way that helps deliver it to its intended target.

Together, these findings opened new windows of possibility for mRNA vaccines. “Our research reignited interest in mRNA vaccines, and the field really took off,” Weissman says.

The right place and time
In the years prior to COVID-19, a coronavirus pandemic couldn’t have been further from the minds of Karikó and Weissman. They were focused on testing mRNA vaccines for pathogens like genital herpes and influenza.

But when the pandemic struck, they knew that their 15-year-old discoveries could provide a roadmap to stem the toll—and fast. “We knew that one of the advantages of an mRNA vaccine was how quickly it could be created,” Weissman says.

In the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, modified mRNA instructs cells to create proteins that look like the characteristic spike proteins that the virus uses to enter the body’s cells. The body responds to the perceived threat of a foreign protein by creating antibodies to combat it, even though it never actually confronts the virus itself.

Phase 1/2 clinical trials of both mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech showed signs of early promise, and by Phase 3, the vaccines were shown to offer, respectively, 94% and 95% protection from symptomatic disease caused by the virus. “At this point, we were both incredibly relieved,” Weissman says. “What works in mice rarely works in men.”

To date, a combined 360 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been administered in the U.S. alone, with an additional 125 countries using the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and 70 countries using the Moderna vaccine.

Adjusting to the spotlight
These days, the pair is approaching celebrity status in the biomedical research community, having won the Princess of Asturias Award, the Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research, the $3 million Breakthrough Prize, the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Life Science, and, most notably, the 2021 Lasker Award—America’s top biomedical research prize—for their role in creating the vaccine.

To honor Weissman and Karikó and carry forward their important work, long-time philanthropic partners of Penn Medicine Aileen Roberts (third from left) and Brian Roberts (second from right), also a Wharton alumnus, established the Roberts Family Professorship in Vaccine Research and the Katalin Karikó Fellowship Fund in Vaccine Development. This past June, Weissman and Karikó met with University of Pennsylvania Health System CEO Kevin Mahoney, Assistant Dean for Advanced Medical Practice Jack Ende, Penn President Amy Gutmann, and Perelman School of Medicine Dean J. Larry Jameson. (Image: Penn Medicine)
Between ongoing research projects, awards ceremonies, and media appearances, Weissman and Karikó have found very little down time. “My wife and kids joke that I’m happiest when I’m left alone in my lab,” Weissman says. “This sudden change of pace has been a shock to the system.”

Karikó, who didn’t receive a single award in the first 40 years of her career, is also trying to wrap her head around her newfound celebrity. In addition to the many notes of congratulations and encouragement from Penn colleagues and students, she and Weissman frequently receive expressions of gratitude from strangers all over the world. “It’s humbling to receive such an outpouring of support because we were just a few of many people at Penn, as well as BioNTech, who contributed to this achievement,” Karikó says.

Next frontiers
Ultimately, what Karikó and Weissman discovered years ago was a platform, not a treatment for a single disease. The genius of the mRNA technology lies in its limitless potential. In a setup often referred to as “plug and play,” researchers only need to plug in the sequence of the protein they want to create or replace to target a specific disease.

Another advantage of mRNA technology is speed. To create live vaccines used to inoculate against diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella, or inactivated vaccines like those used for flu and polio, researchers must transport and replicate actual pathogens during the manufacturing process. By circumventing the need for actual pathogens, mRNA vaccines allow for faster production and flexible delivery.

I always wanted to alter mRNA to make it therapeutic, but working shoulder to shoulder with Drew, I ended up laying the groundwork for mRNA vaccines instead.Katalin Karikó, a BioNTech executive and adjunct professor of neurosurgery at the Perelman School of Medicine
Weissman is seizing on these advantages to ensure that the world is ready for the next incarnation of coronaviruses. He and his lab are hard at work developing a pan-coronavirus vaccine capable of protecting the population against SARS, MERS, SARS-CoV-2, and any future variants and coronaviruses. At BioNTech, where Karikó serves as senior vice president, she is overseeing parallel but distinct research on a range of diseases in which patients receive mRNA encoding therapeutic proteins.

Like branches of a tree, research projects based on Weissman and Karikó’s foundational research are sprouting quickly at Penn. A growing number of groups, some involving Weissman, are undertaking mRNA research related to cancer, neuro-development disorders, other infectious diseases, genetic conditions, and animal health.

In early 2022, Weissman will partner with Harvey Friedman, a professor of infectious diseases and an HSV researcher, to begin human clinical trials of an mRNA vaccine for herpes, the most common sexually transmitted disease. At the newly created Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response, Scott Hensley, a professor of microbiology, is creating mRNA vaccines for a wide range of shapeshifting influenza virus strains.

In addition, mRNA technology has also shifted the goalposts for cancer research, as Karikó and Weissman discovered in collaboration with colleagues like Norbert Pardi, a research assistant professor of infectious diseases, who Karikó had mentored in Hungary before both senior investigators supervised his postdoctoral work at Penn. The researchers discovered that mRNA vaccines can not only create immune response to viruses like COVID-19, but can also boost the response of cytotoxic T cells in fighting cancer cells.

Developing mRNA vaccines for cancer presents a unique challenge, since most antibodies in tumor cells are specific to each individual, but researchers are feeling their way through the darkness step by step. At least eight pharmaceutical companies, many in collaboration with institutions like Penn, are studying cancer vaccines in ongoing clinical trials.

Nearly 25 years ago, a chance meeting at a photocopier lit the fuse for a revolution in mRNA technology. Now, hundreds of researchers around the world are picking up the mantle. “We’re only beginning to discover all the ways we can use mRNA,” Weissman says. “At Penn and beyond, there is so much more to come.”

Sending the right message about the omicron variant is tricky [NPR, 2 Dec 2021]

By SELENA SIMMONS-DUFFIN

With the first case of omicron confirmed in California and more cases expected across the U.S., public health officials who know the difference between good and bad crisis communication say they can't afford to be quiet and wait until scientists know how risky the new variant is before they speak out.

"We don't want to just be silent on the matter, because then that can cause fear and then that can allow for misinformation to creep in," says Elya Franciscus, the epidemiology operations manager for COVID-19 in Harris County, Texas.

There's a mantra in crisis communication: Be first, be right, be credible. "One of those is clearly being first," says Crystal Watson, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. "So even though we don't know a whole lot right now, I think it's important to hear from public health officials." That said, being credible also means not giving information you may have to retract as more is learned. Walking that line can be very tricky, as U.S. health officials learned at the start of the pandemic when they underestimated the usefulness of masks in protecting against infection.

"Sometimes these messages can be very definitive and not convey what the uncertainty is," says Watson. The danger of being too definitive is that you can be accused of flip-flopping later if new information necessitates new guidance.

How to get the message right
This time, a lot of local public health departments around the country are working hard to get the message right, says Adriane Casalotti of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. "We have seen local health departments being out there, trying to explain to folks what we do know, but also what we don't know — and what the timeframe is, and what the process is for learning more."

One official who's getting out there is Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis, a specialist in infectious diseases and the director of health for the city of St. Louis.

"The message is: There's no need to panic," she says. "We still need to learn, we still need to wait for science to do its thing. But in the meantime, we have tools available to keep ourselves and our community safe. We have safe and effective vaccines — so go out and get one — we know that masking works, we know that social distancing works, and we know that hand-washing works."

In addition to the "don't panic, do this instead" message, Vish Viswanath, professor of health communication at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health says Hlatshwayo Davis is also signaling to the community that she's engaged and plans to keep them updated as scientists learn more about the new variant. He says her approach is "exactly what we need."

"That sense of competence and action — 'we are watching it, we are on top of it, we'll work with you' — it won't eliminate, but it will abate many concerns," he says.

Watson notes that the public health measures officials have already been recommending to protect against delta and any SARS-CoV-2 variant — to get vaccinated and boosted, wear masks indoors in public spaces, socially distance and wash your hands — "are still a good idea and are still going to be effective against this variant. We don't know how that effectiveness will change, but we know that these are still tried and true things that have worked for other variants."

Transparency is key to gaining trust
It's also key to encourage people to stay tuned as more is learned, Viswanath says, with messages like this: " 'Here are the guidelines that have always worked, please take these actions, they will continue to work. If we find out that they don't work and there have to be changes, we will tell you.'

"Communicating that sense of transparency is very important," he says.

For Hlatshwayo Davis, how and when she conveys these messages is also important. She's done COVID-19 town halls in the past, taking audience questions, and she likes that format.

"But I want to be careful about timing. I think it's very frustrating to convene people to tell them. 'We don't know. We don't know. We don't know. We don't know.' Right?" she says. So her focus right now is using social media platforms and connecting with local clergy and community groups — the sort of trusted messengers people turn to in times of uncertainty.

When there's more information about omicron to dig into, then her department will "have a town hall where we can have some really good dialogue," Davis says, adding "I'm hoping that will be able to be accomplished within the next two to three weeks."

Know your audience
Vishwanath notes that public health officials are addressing a mixed audience. Not everyone is feeling panicked by the news of omicron. A lot of people are indifferent — or actively resistant — to the idea that there's a new variant of concern. And that can make communication harder. "It's a difficult thing because people are tired, people are fatigued and you have to understand where they're coming from," he says.

Of course, a lot of health department staffers have their own pandemic fatigue. And getting the right message out is only one part of their mission. They also need to be ready to identify and track future omicron cases, while dealing with the current load of delta cases.

"We haven't really slowed down — we've never stopped testing, we've never stopped vaccinating," says Franciscus in Harris County. "So it's easy for us to kind of switch from, 'Oh, maybe it looked like we were hitting a low point and we could maybe start slowing down' to, 'OK, new variant — let's ramp up again.' "

She says her county health department has a plan ready if and when omicron is identified locally.

Hlatshwayo Davis in St. Louis says the public health toolkit is a lot more robust than it was when the pandemic began.

"Are we really at the same place with this new variant as we were in March to 2020? The answer is no," she says.

"We have rapid tests available, we have done contact tracing for two years — we know what works and doesn't work. We have safe and effective vaccines, the ability to provide them now for children above the age of 5. This puts us leaps and bounds [beyond] where we were," she says.

Colorado confirms omicron variant of COVID-19 in woman who recently returned from southern Africa [The Denver Post, 2 Dec 2021]

By MEG WINGERTER

Arapahoe County resident’s infection is third confirmed in U.S. following cases in California and Minnesota

Colorado has identified its first known case of the new omicron variant of COVID-19 in an Arapahoe County resident, but there’s no evidence that version of the virus is widespread at this point — and it’s still not known how great a risk the new strain poses.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on Thursday reported the patient, an adult woman, has mild symptoms and is recovering at home. She recently had traveled to multiple countries in southern Africa, where the variant was first identified.

Her COVID-19 test was flagged by the Tri-County Health Department for genetic sequencing because of her recent travel. State epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said the woman followed all public health guidelines, including wearing a mask while traveling and getting tested as soon as she developed symptoms.

The woman was vaccinated against COVID-19, and enough time had elapsed that she was eligible for a booster shot, but she had not gotten one. People who were in close contact with her have been ordered to isolate, but none have tested positive so far, according to state health officials.

Gov. Jared Polis said he’s “not terribly alarmed” that a first omicron case has been found, but urged people to get vaccinated or get booster shots before it becomes widespread. Much remains unknown about the new variant, but indirect evidence suggests it could be more contagious than the delta variant, which currently dominates in Colorado and much of the world.

“If we have a few weeks… let’s use it to protect ourselves,” he said.

Overall, Colorado’s COVID-19 situation seems to be slowly improving. Hospitalizations for confirmed cases dropped to 1,400 on Thursday afternoon. Capacity remained tight, though, with only 67 intensive-care beds and 399 general beds available statewide.

Other metrics also showed some improvement. The average number of cases each day has continued to fall, though the decrease hasn’t been as steep in the last few days as it was last week. The number of active outbreaks also fell for the first time since mid-July, though it was only a decrease of three.

The positivity rate raised one red flag that this wave may not be over. The percentage of tests coming back positive rebounded somewhat in the last few days, after slowly falling for much of November. It’s too early to know if Thanksgiving gatherings led to increased spread of the virus, and it isn’t clear what effect omicron might have if it becomes widespread.

“Certainly we’re less worried about exceeding our hospital capacity than we were two weeks ago, but this virus keeps throwing spitball after screwball,” Polis said.

The World Health Organization has classified omicron as a variant of concern, though much is yet to be known about how great of a threat it poses.

Mutations on the virus’ spike protein — the part that allows it to enter human cells — suggest it could be more contagious than previous variants and harder for the immune system to recognize, but it will take at least two weeks to confirm whether omicron truly behaves differently from previous variants.

California and Minnesota identified cases of omicron before Colorado did, and New York announced five cases later Thursday afternoon. The Minnesota resident hadn’t left the country, but had traveled to a convention in New York, suggesting at least some spread already has happened within the United States.

Experts have raised concerns about whether the United States has a clear picture of how far omicron may have spread, because some parts of the country are doing significantly more testing than others. Colorado does more sequencing than most states.

As of Thursday afternoon, omicron had been found in 36 countries, with cases that weren’t linked to travel in Canada and six western European countries, as well as South Africa and Botswana. New information from the Netherlands shows the variant was already in Europe a week before it was confirmed in South Africa and raised alarms.

The state health department advises anyone who has traveled internationally to take a test that looks for the virus’s genetic material three to five days after returning. While rapid tests can tell you if you have the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the state can’t use them to determine which variant is causing your illness, Herlihy said.

COVID-19 cases recently started increasing in South Africa’s Gauteng province, which includes the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria, Herlihy said. The spike in cases, which coincides with finding omicron there, is indirect evidence that the variant may spread more easily, she said.

A South African doctor reported her patients who had omicron generally had mild symptoms, but it’s not clear if that reflects a difference in the virus, Herlihy said. Many of the patients were in their 20s, and most people in that age group have mild or moderate symptoms, she said.

It also isn’t clear if the immune system has a harder time detecting omicron, which would increase the odds it gains a foothold in people who have been vaccinated or recovered from a previous version of the virus.

At this point, the World Health Organization expects that people who have been vaccinated will still be protected from severe COVID-19, Herlihy said.

The state is sequencing about 15% of positive COVID-19 tests, as well as sampling wastewater to find out what variants are in the community and how widespread they are, Herlihy said.

Delta still accounts for almost all cases identified in Colorado, but at this point, the precautions are the same for all variants: get vaccinated; get a booster, if you’re eligible; wear a mask in public indoor settings; practice social distancing; and stay home, except to get tested or get medical care, if you’re feeling sick.

“The strategies are the same,” she said.

Omicron Covid variant likely circulating for longer — and more widely — than thought, experts say [CNBC, 2 Dec 2021]

by Holly Ellyatt

LONDON — As more cases of the new omicron Covid variant emerge around the world, experts say it's likely that the variant, first identified in South Africa last week, had already been circulating for some time.

The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that at least 23 countries from five of the six WHO regions have now reported cases of omicron, "and we expect that number to grow."

The U.S. then became the 24th country to confirm its first case of omicron. It was detected in a fully vaccinated person in California, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed on Wednesday. A second U.S. case was identified in a Minnesota man who developed symptoms after returning from New York City where he attended a convention from Nov. 19-21, Minnesota health officials said Thursday. He was also fully vaccinated and has since recovered, they said.

Other countries that have identified the variant the U.K., France, Israel, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and a number of countries in southern Africa.

The U.S., U.K. and EU, among others, responded to news of the variant last week by temporarily suspending flights from southern African countries, or introducing strict quarantines on anyone arriving from the region.

The move sparked anger in South Africa and has prompted criticism from the WHO, which said on Wednesday that such reactions could deter countries which sequence and report virus variants (like the U.K. and South Africa, where major Covid variants have been found) from being transparent in future.

Omicron circulating for a while?
The omicron variant, or B.1.1.529 as it's formally known, was first reported to the WHO from South Africa on Nov. 24. The first known sample dated back to Nov. 9.

But there are now increasing signs that the variant was in circulation in other countries before South Africa's health authorities alerted the world to its presence. There are a growing number of cases being discovered with no travel connection to the region, suggesting community transmission is taking place.

In Scotland in the U.K., for example, 9 cases have been detected that have been traced back to a "single private event" held on Nov. 20 and none of the individuals involved are believed to have any recent travel history to southern Africa.

Then, on Tuesday, the Netherlands said it had identified the omicron variant in two test samples taken in the country between Nov. 19 and 23 — before the variant was first reported by South Africa and travel bans came into place. It was initially believed that two flights that arrived in Amsterdam from South Africa last Sunday had brought the first cases of omicron to the country (there are now 14 confirmed cases in all).

On Tuesday, Germany also reported an omicron case in a man in Liepzig who had not been abroad, nor had contact with anyone who had been.

Dr. Angelique Coetzee, chair of the South African Medical Association and the doctor who first raised the alarm over a possible variant, told the BBC Sunday that she did so after she started to see patients around Nov.18 presenting with "unusual symptoms" that differed slightly to those associated with the delta variant, the most virulent strain of the virus to date.

Meanwhile Botswana, one of the countries affected by Western travel bans in the wake of the variant, said last Friday that it first detected the variant on four foreign nationals who entered the country on a diplomatic mission on Nov. 7 (again, far earlier than it was reported by South Africa) as part of its regular Covid surveillance. It did not identify the foreign nationals' home country.

Origin not in Africa?
At a press briefing held by WHO's Africa office on Thursday, the UN agency's regional experts told CNBC that the origin of the omicron variant was unknown, and they criticized restrictive travel measures placed on southern African countries.

"Our surveillance system in the global world is not perfect yet," Dr Abdou Salam Gueye, regional emergency director in WHO's Africa office, told CNBC Thursday during a press briefing.

"When we detect a variant or virus … usually we're going to detect it weeks after it started its evolution. The only thing we are sure about, when a country detects a virus, is that that country's surveillance system is good. That's what happened in southern Africa, so this discourages the travel ban even more because ... it is like a measure against a good surveillance system."

He added that it was "not unexpected" that cases were now being discovered in Europe.
"It's only [with] the investigations that are being conducted that we're going to know more about the origins of this virus," he added.

His colleague, Dr Nicksy Gumede-Moeletsi, a senior virologist in WHO's Africa office, told CNBC that the number of countries reporting the omicron variant was increasing daily.

"It seems that the majority of these countries that are [reporting omicron cases] now ... are coming from abroad rather than here in Africa, so we don't know where it started and we need very good scientific evidence to study the molecular evolution of the omicron variant further."
Experts based in Europe tend to agree that omicron has likely been circulating for longer, and more widely, than initially thought.

"The origin of Omicron is still unknown, including the location where it first spread," Moritz Kraemer, lead researcher on the Oxford Martin Programme on Pandemic Genomics at Oxford University, told CNBC Thursday.

"That in part is due to limited sequencing coverage and surveillance in some countries" he noted, adding that South Africa has a well established system of genomic surveillance.

"I personally do not think there has been wide undetected circulation for a very long time," Kraemer said. However he added that he expects the number of countries with imported and local transmission of omicron to be much larger than reported.

Experts are widely expecting this variant to spread quickly given early indications from South Africa, where 74% of virus genomes sequenced in the last month belonged to the new variant.

Lawrence Young, professor of molecular oncology at Warwick University, told CNBC Wednesday that "it's no surprise that omicron has been circulating more widely and for longer than has been reported previously."

"Once a variant is identified, particularly one that is likely to be more infectious, it will have spread far beyond the few original cases and countries. That's the nature of infectious disease in a world where international travel is so common," he said.

Some epidemiologists have speculated that the omicron variant could have started to spread internationally around the end of October, a hypothesis agreed with by other experts spoken to by CNBC.

Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the Norwich School of Medicine at the University of East Anglia, told CNBC Wednesday that, given the earliest known omicron sample was taken on Nov.9 in South Africa, "clearly the infection must have been circulating a little before that unless the index case was the person in whom the variant evolved, but probably not much earlier."

While Danny Altmann, professor of immunology at Imperial College London, said he'd "certainly agree it's a possibility" that the omicron variant was spreading earlier than November, and that there was no certainty it originate in South Africa.

"The point that it came to attention through rising cases and excellent sequencing around Gauteng [in South Africa] from the second week of November neither proves it arose near there or that this was the starting point."

Extended host range for SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern [News-Medical.net, 2 Dec 2021]

By Dr. Liji Thomas

As the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pathogen from China continues to cause new infections worldwide, causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), genomic surveillance has demonstrated the emergence of several new variants of the virus.
These have, in some cases, been associated with increased transmissibility and/or immune evasion. Now, a new preprint suggests that they could also extend the range of hosts that can be infected by the virus.

A preprint version of this study is available on the bioRxiv* server, while the article undergoes peer review.

Background
The beta-coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is thought to have emerged from a bat reservoir. It has been found to engage mammalian cells via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor on the host cell membrane. An unknown intermediate host is probably involved in the species jump, according to many scientists.

The earlier SARS-CoV as well as closely related species like the RaTG13 also originated in bats, supporting this hypothesis. Moreover, recently identified Sarbecoviruses in bats have been found to be almost identical to this virus at the spike region, at the receptor-binding domain (RBD). These findings seem to make it more probable that other coronaviruses have a high affinity for human ACE2 molecules, currently circulating in wild animal populations such as bats.

In addition, it has been experimentally possible to infect ferrets, mice, bats, monkeys, chimpanzees, cats, dogs, and mink, with these viruses, showing that the host range for these viruses is indeed broader than just bats and humans. The implications of this finding are threefold.

One, this indicates an ongoing risk of transmission to humans from wild or domestic animals, such that these could act as reservoirs of the virus from where repeated waves of infection may arise. Second, the virus could spread between different animal species themselves.
Thirdly, such animals may be of use as COVID-19 model animals to examine the development of therapeutic and vaccine platforms as well as to understand more about the disease itself.
Earlier experiments by the current authors, as well as other scientists, have shown that SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins are capable of binding to several different kinds of ACE2 molecules in mammals. Moreover, pseudovirus experiments have shown the ability of this spike protein to infect dogs, cats, pangolins, rabbits, and other mammals, though not rats, ferrets, and certain birds and bats, to the same extent.

As the virus spread and replicated rapidly in human populations the world over, hundreds of mutations have occurred in the ribonucleic acid (RNA) genome. Many of these have affected the RBD, changing the shape of the epitopes and thus altering its recognition by immune receptors as well as the host cell receptor ACE2..

Some of these have been clustered together in specific viral variants or lineages, forming some variants of concern (VOCs) such as the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta. The Alpha VOC was the first to rise to global prominence, with its markedly higher transmissibility, almost wiping out the previously dominant D614G strain.

Similarly, the Delta strain rapidly became dominant during the second quarter of 2021, replacing most of the strains that were circulating earlier. This type of replacement is attributed to the ongoing adaptation of the virus to the human host, as well as its increased ability to evade the immune responses of the host by slipping under the immune radar thanks to mutations at the right spots on the spike antigen and especially the RBD.

Spike mutations are also known to have favorably impacted the replication capacity of the virus, its infectivity, and its ability to antagonize the innate immune host response. The current preprint examined the binding of four VOC spike variants to ACE2 receptors from different species.

What did the study show?
The investigators used pseudoviral infection experiments, with the viral particles expressing four different spike antigens from the four VOCs mentioned above. They compared spike-ACE2 binding across multiple hosts to that of the original or wildtype SARS-CoV-2 spike. The spike proteins were engineered to enhance their incorporation into the viral particles, thus potentially improving the efficiency of infection.

Human, civet, ferret, mouse, hamster, rat, and pig ACE2 molecules were assessed for the tropism of the virus. While the first two were known hosts, in the current or earlier outbreaks, the rodents, except for the rat, had been experimentally infected and used as models for the virus. Rats may be a reservoir for human-derived SARS-CoV-2 due to their habitat, which brings them into close contact with the virus in human sewage. Pigs are known to be a reservoir for the Nipah and influenza viruses.

With human ACE2, the pseudotyped viruses showed only a small increase in binding with the Beta variant but not with any other, compared to the wild-type spike. In the civet, the Beta VOC was the only one to show a significant increase in the extent of viral cell entry.

Mouse ACE2 binding was significantly improved for all four VOCs, corroborating the difficulty in achieving infection with this receptor using the viral isolates from early in the pandemic. The Delta variant, the only one that did not show the presence of N501Y, showed a lower increase in mouse ACE2 binding than the other VOC spikes. In rat ACE2, too, the non-Delta VOCs showed notable increases in ACE2 receptor binding.

The changes for ferret ACE2 binding were seen in the form of increased binding with the Beta and Gamma VOCs, but no significant changes were observed with the hamster or pig ACE2.

The latter had shown themselves to be readily infected by the wild-type isolates, unlike rats, mice, ferrets, and civets.

Thus, the VOCs that contain the N501Y mutation have a broader range of hosts, while the Delta variant shares a similar range to the wild-type virus containing D614G.

The role of the N501Y mutation in overcoming host receptor restrictions in mouse ACE2 expressing cells was clearly seen since its introduction to the wild-type virus allowed infection equivalent to that of the Alpha VOC that also possesses this mutation. Changes at other sites such as the furin cleavage site, P681H, such as that seen in the Alpha VOC, or the Δ69-70 deletions in the N-terminal domain (NTD) did not seem to change viral entry kinetics in mice or rat ACE2 expressing cells, though the deletions were not independently examined.

In civets, the N501Y and K417N mutations seemed to inhibit viral attachment, but E484K enhanced viral entry, and this may contribute to the small increase in ACE2 binding with the Beta VOC spike. When introduced into the Alpha spike variant, the E484K compensated for the inhibition caused by the former mutations.

What are the implications?
The study shows the importance of understanding the functional changes mediated by the spike protein, including viral entry and increased host receptor range, as well as immune evasion. These could lead to higher infectivity, transmissibility, and virulence. The findings of this paper draw attention to the potential for reverse zoonosis, with the SARS-CoV-2 replicating in a wild animal species, to eventually spill back into the human population.

The small number of mutations observed to underlie significant functional changes is proof of the importance of viral evolution between and within hosts.

As of now, the researchers say, “these VOCs have not yet been linked to any significant increase in spill-over back into livestock, companion animals or wildlife ACE2 proteins.”

This could be because of poor sampling of potential reservoir species or limitation of contact between humans and animals in situations of infection. Alternatively, the frequency at which spill-overs occur could be very low, or it could just be that animal infection with these VOCs does not cause any marked difference in disease characteristics.

All four VOCs were able to overcome their relative inability to engage the mouse ACE2, confirming that small spike protein changes are required to allow the spike to bind to cognate receptors in various species. This was seen in mink, which led to the mass destruction of these animals to prevent the spread of the virus among them, and potentially, to other animals.
However, it is important to realize that the mink mutations like Y453F inhibit human ACE2 binding.

The demonstrable differences shown by individual VOCs binding to rat, ferret, or civet ACE2 receptors are attributable to N501Y and E484K substitutions within the RBD.

The animal models used to screen antivirals or vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 could yield different data on exposure-infection rates or pathogenicity, depending on whether they are exposed to the wild-type or VOC virus. This could cause confusion about the efficacy of such interventions.

Secondly, ACE2 restriction could drive viral adaptation within the animals, which could again breed confusion as to the actual transmissibility of the variant involved. Hamsters are an exception in this regard.

Finally, the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to infect a broad host range is extended by the VOCs, mostly without inhibiting its infectivity towards the original host species. How far this will continue and how it will affect the chances of reverse zoonosis cannot be predicted at present.

The researchers postulate,
"The conceivable ‘worst case scenario’ for SARS-CoV-2 reverse zoonosis is that the virus establishes itself in a new reservoir and at such a level that antibody selection pressure takes place and/or prolonged antigenic drift leading to escape mutants that are relevant to immune human populations.”

*Important notice
bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.

Journal reference:
Thakur, N. et al. (2021). SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta Have Extended ACE2 Receptor Host-Ranges. bioRxiv preprint. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.11.23.469663. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.11.23.469663v1

Herald: The New Visitor named Omicron [Oherald, 2 Dec 2021]

by Molly Fernandes

Can Goa afford to relax its pandemic measures? by Alexandre Moniz Barbosa (Herald, November 28), are words of wisdom and words of ‘concern’ as the threat of new variant of Omicron looms over and has been termed dangerous.

Couple of days back we heard about two south African internationals testing positive with Covid-19 as threat of new variant looms at Bangalore where their samples have sent for further tests, and both have been quarantined.

As the new variant looms over, there is deep concern over what the government of Goa is up to asking the schools to start physical classes for the students of Class VII n VIII.

The recent film festival’s consequences are yet to be seen. And the state of affairs that will go into assembly elections which means rallies after rallies with arrivals of party leaders.

We would like to remind the government how due to its deaf ear to listen even to his own ministers, Goa saw the worst of Corona virus in the second wave and many families lost their precious dear ones. It is sad to see that the sops are relaxed the way the beaches, markets, and other places are overcrowded and the entry into the State also taken for granted. A call to the people not to forget that we are still not freed of the virus as our neighbouring States are reeling with nipah.

It is important that the government takes cognisance of the statements issued by the Union health Secretary and the World Health Organisation (WHO) where Union health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to State governments asking them to step up containment and surveillance measures for Covid after the emergence of the Omicron variant, first detected in South Africa.

The health ministry noted that countries where Omicron had been detected had been labeled as 'high risk', warranting follow-up surveillance of international travellers. The new more contagious B.1.1.529 variant, is designated as a ‘variant of concern by the WHO. And countries like Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong, Israel, UK has been identified.

The health ministry said “It is imperative that intensive containment, active surveillance, increased coverage of vaccination and Covid appropriate behaviour be enforced in a very proactive measure to effectively manage this variant of concern. Ample testing infrastructure need to be operationalised to tackle any surge due to this mutated virus. It has been observed that the overall testing as well as the proportion of RT-PCR tests has declined in some States. In the absence of sufficient testing, it is extremely difficult to determine the true level of infection spread.”

In a letter to Modi, Kejriwal noted “We should do everything possible to prevent the new variant of concern, recently recognised by the WHO, from entering India... I urge you to stop flights from these regions with immediate effect. Any delay in this regard may prove harmful, if any affected person enters India.”

Will the Goa Chief Minister take necessary measures to prevent any untoward incident and avoid the surge in numbers, before blaming or holding anyone responsible? Can the Govt get the home work done of getting prepared?

COVID-19: Omicron widens, reaching nations from US to South Korea [Gulf News, 2 Dec 2021]

Researchers worldwide are racing to understand the full impact of the new strain

New York: The omicron variant of Covid-19, first identified in South Africa, has now been detected in countries from the US to South Korea, underscoring the difficulties of curtailing contagious new strains.

Most infections stem from travellers carrying the disease across borders. Israel, for instance, said a confirmed case who arrived from Malawi rode on a bus from Tel Aviv. Italy's first case traveled around the country for days before testing positive. The first omicron case was confirmed in the US in a person who returned from South Africa, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Researchers worldwide are racing to understand the full impact of the new strain, and governments have banned travelers from South Africa and nearby countries on concerns omicron could evade the protection of vaccines and fuel new surges.

Here's how far omicron has reached:
South Africa: Early PCR test samples showed that 90% of 1,100 new cases reported midweek in the province that includes Johannesburg were caused by the variant. The daily number of new confirmed cases almost doubled to 8,561 infections, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases

Botswana: At least 19 cases detected

UK: Five cases, the two latest cases are not connected to each other and not related to the previous three confirmed infections linked to travel in South Africa

Germany: Two cases in travellers who arrived at Munich airport from South Africa, AFP reported, citing regional officials.

Netherlands: 13 cases detected among travelers from South Africa

Denmark: Two cases in arrivals from South Africa

Belgium: One case

Israel: One confirmed case and other suspected ones, as of Nov. 27.

Italy: One case who moved around the country before testing positive

Czech Republic: One case, according to local media

Austria: One confirmed case in Tyrol for person arriving from South Africa. Authorities reviewing another 30 suspected cases
Switzerland: Three cases. People are in isolation

Saudi Arabia: First Omicron case detected in the Kingdom on Wednesday.

UAE: One confirmed case for a person arriving from an African nation and was passing through the UAE.

US: A person in California who had been vaccinated against COVID-19 became the first in the US.

Korea, KAAP support for COVID-19 [The News International, 2 Dec 2021]

Islamabad: The Republic of Korea has supported the government of Pakistan’s response in controlling the outbreak and spread of COVID-19, says a press release.

Islamabad: The Republic of Korea has supported the government of Pakistan’s response in controlling the outbreak and spread of COVID-19, says a press release.

The Korean government has already provided masks, RNA kits, and PPEs (personal protective equipment), worth more than $800,000. The healthcare facilities in different localities are still lacking in medical supplies such as beds, wheelchairs, and stretchers.

In an effort to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and strengthen the healthcare system of Pakistan, the KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) Pakistan Office and KOICA Alumni Association of Pakistan (KAAP) has provided 40 beds, 50 wheelchairs and 50 stretchers in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (Abbass Institute of Medical Sciences Muzaffarabad), Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (Civil Hospital Razmak) and Islamabad (PIMS).

PIMS Director, Dr. Ilaj Qadeer has thanked the South Korean Government for its continued support towards the government of Pakistan’s efforts in overcoming COVID-19. He reiterated the wish to further solidify the cooperation in the health sector between the two countries.
Ikram Ul Haq (General Secretary KAAP), Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj (Executive Director PIMS) and Dr. Ilaj Qadeer (Hospital Director) attended the ceremony.

Coronavirus latest: Japan asks airlines to accommodate needs of returning Japanese [Nikkei Asia, 2 Dec 2021]

Nikkei Asia is tracking the spread of the coronavirus that was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

Cumulative global cases have reached 263,419,383, according to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The worldwide death toll has hit 5,223,7479.

For more information about the spread of COVID-19 and vaccination progress around the world, please see our interactive charts and maps.

Thursday, Dec. 2 (Tokyo time)
2:10 p.m. Australia's state of New South Wales reports its seventh omicron variant infection, a person who arrived on Nov. 23 from Doha, Qatar. State authorities say the person had not been in southern Africa, suggesting they caught the virus on the flight.

11:54 a.m. Japan's transport ministry has canceled its blanket ban on accepting new reservations for inbound flights and asked airlines to accommodate the needs of returning Japanese, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno says. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he had asked the ministry to be mindful of returning Japanese given the confusion that a suspension of new bookings installed on Wednesday had caused.

The government has lowered the maximum number of people allowed to enter the country per day to 3,500. According to the Japanese airlines, the quota of people allocated to each company has been filled for most of the days of the year.

10:30 a.m. As South Korea's daily coronavirus cases reach a fresh high, authorities halt quarantine exemptions for fully vaccinated inbound travelers for two weeks in a bid to fend off the omicron variant. South Korea will require a 10-day quarantine for all inbound travelers for two weeks starting Friday, halting exemptions given earlier to fully vaccinated people.

10:00 a.m. Moderna could have a COVID-19 booster shot targeting the omicron variant tested and ready to file for U.S. authorization as soon as March 2022, Moderna President Stephen Hoge told Reuters. Hoge said he believes booster shots carrying genes specifically targeting mutations in the omicron variant would be the quickest way to address any anticipated reductions in vaccine efficacy it may cause. "We've already started that program," he said.

9:40 a.m. South Korea reports another record for daily coronavirus cases, totaling 5,266, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency says. The country is struggling to stop the spread of the virus, but daily infections topped 5,000 for the first time on Wednesday. South Korea also reported its first five cases of the newly emerged omicron variant.

4:05 a.m. The U.S. has confirmed its first case of infection by the omicron variant, the CDC says.

The person in California was fully vaccinated but did not have a booster shot, says Dr. Anthony Fauci, an adviser to President Joe Biden on infectious disease control.

1:11 a.m. The Serum Institute of India pledges to supply about 40 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot to the global vaccine-distribution network COVAX by the end of year after resuming exports last week, reports Reuters, citing COVAX co-lead GAVI.

1:01 a.m. The World Health Organization says it expects to have more information on the new omicron variant within days instead of weeks, as it originally said.

The new variant, which was first reported in southern Africa, may be more transmissible than the delta variant. It is also unknown if omicron makes people more or less ill.

Wednesday, Dec. 1
11:30 p.m. Garuda Indonesia, the country's flagship air carrier, cancels planned flights connecting Tokyo and Bali, dealing a further blow to the tourism-dependent island.

Garuda had planned a weekly flight between Japan's Haneda Airport to Jakarta with a stop off in Bali from Dec. 5 through the end of the month in what would have been the first direct international flight to the island since it reopened to tourists in mid-October.

But "because of the tightening of immigration restrictions by both Indonesian and Japanese governments due to the omicron strain," the flights to Bali have been canceled, Garuda said on its Japanese website.

10:10 p.m. South Korea reports its first five cases of the omicron variant as daily coronavirus infections top 5,000 for the first time, stoking concern over a sharp rise in patients with severe symptoms. A fully vaccinated couple tested positive for the variant after arriving last week from Nigeria, followed by two of their family members and a friend, officials say.

South Korea also says a U.N. peacekeeping conference expected to draw more than 700 people to Seoul next week now will be held online.

10:07 p.m. Vietnam will suspend flights to and from seven African countries over concerns about the omicron coronavirus variant, Lao Dong Newspaper reports. The countries are South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Lesotho and Mozambique.

Vietnam has yet to detect any cases of omicron, but the country reports 14,508 coronavirus infections on Wednesday, raising its overall caseload to 1.25 million, with 25,000 deaths.
8:40 p.m. India postpones plans to resume regular international flights in light of the emergence of the omicron variant.

The decision comes just days after New Delhi reversed its ban on international flights imposed in March last year.

The situation "is being watched closely in consultation with all stakeholders," said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the country's aviation regulator.

6:40 p.m. The World Health Organization agrees to launch negotiations on an international pact to prevent and control future pandemics. The treaty, expected to be ready in May 2024, is to cover issues from data sharing and genome sequencing of emerging viruses to equitable distribution of vaccines and drugs derived from research.

4:32 p.m. Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has asked domestic and foreign airlines to suspend new bookings for all international flights arriving in Japan to strengthen border controls against the omicron variant of COVID-19. For the time being, the suspension applies to bookings made through the end of December. The ministry says the emergency measure aims to stop the spread of infection until the the situation regarding omicron is known. International flights departing from Japan will not be affected.

4:01 p.m. Japan has found a second person who has tested positive with the COVID-19 omicron variant. The infected man, in his 20s, had been staying in Peru. He is quarantined at a medical institution. The first case of the variant in the country was discovered Tuesday.

3:51 p.m. India's capital, New Delhi, which was one of the worst affected during the pandemic's second wave in the country in April to May, is bracing for omicron. The city government, which is run by the opposition Aam Aadmi Party, says that 30,000 oxygen beds are ready and that the number can be scaled up to over 60,000 in a short span of time. It also says a two-month buffer stock of medicines is being built.

3:00 p.m. Malaysia will temporarily ban the entry of travelers from countries that have reported the omicron coronavirus variant or are considered high-risk, its health minister, Khairy Jamaluddin, says. It will also delay plans to set up so-called Vaccinated Travel Lanes with those countries, he added.

1:58 p.m. Japan will tighten the criteria under which some foreign nationals are exempted from entry restrictions, as part of the government's effort to limit the spread of the omicron COVID-19 variant. Officials are working to narrow the scope of the exemptions. The exemptions currently allow events such as concerts by foreign artists to take place.

1:32 p.m. India reports 8,954 new cases in the last 24 hours -- the fifth straight day with less than 10,000 infections -- pushing the country's total to 34.6 million. Deaths rose by 267 to 469,247. Meanwhile, the country administered about 8.1 million vaccine doses since Tuesday morning, bringing the cumulative vaccination coverage to over 1.24 billion doses.

12:07 p.m. Australian authorities flag another probable case of the omicron variant in Sydney as they brace for more infections after at least two international travelers visited several locations in the city while likely infectious. Officials in New South Wales, home to Sydney, said initial testing "strongly indicates" a man in his 40s who arrived from southern Africa on Nov. 25 had been infected with the Omicron variant and had spent time in the community. "We believe it is likely it will be confirmed later this afternoon as a definite omicron case," the state's health minister, Brad Hazzard, told reporters. But he ruled out lockdowns to contain the newly identified variant.

11:00 a.m. Japan begins COVID-19 booster shots for people who had their second vaccination at least 8 months ago. Medical personnel will be the first to get third doses, expanding to the elderly in January. The move comes amid growing concern after authorities confirmed the first case of the new omicron variant in the country.

10:56 a.m. South Korean cases hit a record daily high of 5,123, up from 3,031 a day ago. Total infections have reached 452,350, with 3,658 deaths. The country has been struggling to contain soaring COVID cases since last month, when it loosened social distancing rules under its "living with the coronavirus" policy.

9:26 a.m. Non-Hong Kong residents traveling from Japan, Portugal and Sweden will not be allowed into the territory after those countries were classified at high risk for the omicron variant. The changes came after Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Israel and Italy were also moved to the high-risk group. Incoming travelers from those countries will now have to quarantine for 21 days, starting Dec 3.

7:58 a.m. Brazil's health regulator Anvisa said that two Brazilians had tested positive for the omicron COVID-19 variant, the first reported cases in Latin America. Anvisa said a traveler arriving in Sao Paulo from South Africa and his wife, who had not traveled, both tested positive for the new variant, adding to concerns that omicron is spreading around the world before recent travel bans went into effect.

Tuesday, Nov. 30
8:27 p.m. The new coronavirus variant, omicron, has been detected in two Israeli doctors, one of whom returned from a conference in London in the past week, a spokesperson for Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv confirmed. The two doctors had received three doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and so far have shown mild COVID-19 symptoms, the hospital says. The physician who returned from Britain probably infected his colleague, it says.

Two more people have been identified in Israel as carrying the new variant, health officials have confirmed, one of them a tourist from Malawi who had received the AstraZeneca vaccine.

7:45 p.m. India's health ministry says states should ramp up COVID-19 testing as the world battles the new omicron coronavirus variant, while some cities delayed the reopening of schools as a precaution. While India has not yet reported any omicron cases, authorities are studying the sample of a man who tested positive for COVID-19 after recently returning from South Africa to see if he is infected with that or another variant. The ministry added the omicron variant "doesn't escape RT-PCR and RAT (testing)," appeasing some concerns among domestic health workers that changes in the spike protein of the virus could lead to conventional tests failing to detect the variant.

5:00 p.m. China's Foreign Ministry says the new omicron COVID-19 variant will pose challenges for prevention and control, but it nonetheless believes the Winter Olympics will go smoothly. Beijing is set to host the Games from Feb. 4 to Feb. 20.

4:01 p.m. Japan has discovered its first omicron case, a government source says. A man in his 30s who arrived from Namibia has been found to be infected with the heavily mutated variant after he tested positive for the coronavirus at Narita Airport, near Tokyo, upon his arrival on Sunday, according to the source.

3:17 p.m. Japan's blue-chip Nikkei Stock Average declined over 400 points, or 1.6%, on Tuesday, closing below the 28,000 mark for the first time in nearly two months. The benchmark index had risen in early-morning trade, but fell quickly following a report by the Financial Times that Moderna's chief executive believes existing vaccines will be much less effective in fighting the new variant, Omicron.

2:24 p.m. India logs 6,990 new cases in the last 24 hours, the lowest daily infection count in a year and a half, bringing the country's total to about 34.6 million. Fatalities rose by 190 to 468,980. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban flights from countries where the omicron variant has been detected. "Many countries have stopped flights from omicron-affected nations. Why are we delaying?" he tweeted in Hindi on Tuesday.

1:00 p.m. Australian authorities say an international traveler who was most likely infected with the omicron variant has spent time in the community. Officials are now rushing to track the person's close contacts and locations visited. New South Wales health officials say initial testing "strongly indicates" the traveler, who arrived in Sydney last week, before the latest border restrictions took effect, has been infected with the variant. The fully vaccinated person visited a busy shopping center in Sydney while likely infectious, officials say. All passengers on the person's flight have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days regardless of their vaccination status.

11:30 a.m. Hong Kong has banned nonresidents from entering the city from four African countries -- Angola, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Zambia -- starting Tuesday due to fears over the omicron variant. Residents can return if they are vaccinated but will have to quarantine for seven days in a government facility and another two weeks in a hotel at their own cost. On Dec. 2, Hong Kong will expand the ban to travelers who have been to Australia, Canada, Israel and six European countries -- Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany and Italy -- in the past 21 days. Vaccinated residents returning from these countries will face three weeks of hotel quarantine.

11:00 a.m. Singapore's health ministry says travelers from Johannesburg who tested positive for the omicron coronavirus variant in Sydney, had transited through Changi Airport. The two individuals left Johannesburg on Nov. 27 on a Singapore Airlines flight and arrived at Changi on the same day for their transit flight. Both had tested negative prior to departure. Most of the travelers had remained in the transit area at Changi. Of the seven who disembarked, six had been placed on a 10-day stay-at-home notice, while the seventh, a close contact of an infected individual on the flight, had been quarantined.

10:56 a.m. South Korean biotech company Celltrion says its distribution arm has signed supply deals for its monoclonal antibody to treat COVID-19 with nine European countries. The European Commission earlier this month approved the company's antibody therapy Regkirona, granting marketing authorization for adults with COVID-19 who are at increased risk of progressing to a severe condition. The first batch of 50,000 doses will be shipped to Europe this year and the company is in talks with 47 other nations including in Asia, Central and South America and the Middle East.

9:34 a.m. Japanese drugmakers Shionogi and Daiichi Sankyo look to ensure that their vaccines under development will be effective against the new omicron variant. Shionogi is considering making an active vaccine ingredient based on the omicron virus' genetic information. The company has been developing a vaccine against previous coronavirus variants which will soon enter final-stage clinical trials, with plans to go on the market by March. Daiichi Sankyo has started to investigate whether its own vaccine under development would be effective against omicron.

9:30 a.m. Canada has detected two omicron cases in Ottawa, bringing the country total to five of the new variant. Earlier in the day, Quebec discovered its first case of the omicron variant.
Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube told reporters that 115 travelers from countries affected by the variant -- primarily South Africa -- were asked to isolate and test for COVID-19.
6:00 a.m. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says everyone aged 18 years and older should get a booster shot. The update comes after President Joe Biden called for more vaccinations to curb the spread of the omicron variant, which was first detected in southern Africa.

2:38 a.m. Health ministers from the Group of Seven nations hold an urgent meeting to discuss the omicron variant. In a joint statement, they say they will continue to work closely together with the WHO and international partners to share information and monitor omicron. They also praise the exemplary work of South Africa in both detecting the variant and alerting others to it.

12:37 a.m. Sweden confirms its first case of the omicron coronavirus variant, the country's Public Health Agency says, citing a test taken just over a week ago by a person who traveled from South Africa. Spain also detects its first case of the omicron variant, in a traveler coming from South Africa, El Pais newspaper reports.

12:30 a.m. Pfizer has begun work on a new vaccine targeting the omicron variant of the coronavirus, and it could be shipped in less than 100 days if necessary, CEO Albert Bourla says. "We have made multiple times clear that we would be able to have [this] vaccine in less than 100 days," Bourla told CNBC. He noted that the company created vaccines for the beta and delta variants quickly, though they ultimately weren't used because the original shots remained effective. Bourla also says the company's treatment pill against COVID-19 will be effective against the new variant. "The good news when it comes to our treatment, it was designed with that in mind. It was designed with the fact that most mutations are coming in the spikes," he said.

Monday, Nov. 29
11:45 p.m. Chinese President Xi Jinping has said his country will supply another 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to African countries in addition to the 200 million that it has already provided. Xi's pledge comes amid rising global concerns over the new omicron variant, which was first identified in southern Africa.

11:30 p.m. South Korea will set a six-month limit on its vaccination certificates, the government says, hoping to encourage the public to obtain booster shots. At a meeting of infection control policymakers, President Moon Jae-in says the public needs to realize "that vaccination isn't complete unless you receive a third shot."

The expiration feature will begin Dec. 20. People with expired vaccination certificates will face restrictions on eating at restaurants and other activities.

New COVID-19 infections, serious cases and deaths are reaching all-time highs in South Korea amid a rise in so-called breakthrough infections in vaccinated people. The Kospi was among the Asian stock indexes falling Monday as worries over the new omicron variant swept the region.

8:30 p.m. Australia says it will delay the reopening of its international border by two weeks after reporting its first cases of the omicron coronavirus variant. Prime Minister Scott Morrison convened a meeting of his national security committee and said it received advice from Australia's chief health officer to delay the reopening after the first cases of the new variant were detected on Sunday.

8:00 p.m. The Philippines and Indonesia have imposed travel bans and other restrictions in response to concerns over the spread of the new COVID-19 omicron variant, joining other countries in the region. Read more here.

5:54 p.m. Hong Kong has found its third case of the omicron variant, but officials stress the virus has been contained and will not affect the resumption of quarantine-free travel to mainland China. The city's latest case involves a man who arrived from Nigeria. The government said it would reclassify countries with omicron cases as high-risk. An entry ban on non-Hong Kong residents from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia, and Zimbabwe came into effect Sunday. Hong Kong residents arriving in the city from those countries will have to quarantine in a government facility for seven days where they will undergo daily tests, before transferring to a designated hotel for another 14.

5:40 p.m. Portugal has detected 13 cases of the new omicron coronavirus variant -- all related to players and staff members of Lisbon soccer team Belenenses, says health authority DGS.
5:23: p.m. The omicron variant is likely to spread internationally, posing a "very high" global risk where COVID-19 surges could have "severe consequences" in some areas, the World Health Organization says. The U.N. agency, in technical advice to its 194 member states, urged them to accelerate vaccination of high-priority groups and to "ensure mitigation plans are in place" to maintain essential health services.

4:03 p.m. Indonesia is prioritizing COVID-19 control over tourism in the short term by continuing with tougher quarantine rules than many of its neighbors, a senior minister told Nikkei Asia, especially as the country gears up to chair the Group of 20 nations and host a series of meetings starting in December -- mainly in Bali.

2:30 p.m. Japan says a person that stayed in Namibia has tested positive for COVID-19 but it is not known whether the infection is of the omicron variant. The person tested positive upon entering Japan on Sunday. The health ministry says it is looking into the case closely and it would take four to five days to determine the type of the variant. Japan is curbing entrants from Namibia and other southern African countries as it steps up measures against the new coronavirus variant.

2:00 p.m. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the country will try to live with the coronavirus despite the new omicron variant posing a fresh health threat to the world. There were no cases of the variant in New Zealand, but the developing global situation showed why a cautious approach was needed at the borders, she said. "Omicron is a reminder of the risk that still exists at our borders."

12:38 p.m. The Japanese government has decided to halt allowing foreign business travelers and students to enter the country because of the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant omicron. After new infection numbers plummeted, the government in early November lifted its entry ban for these travelers. The country still remains closed to tourists.

11:30 a.m. Australia will review plans to reopen borders to skilled migrants and students from Dec. 1, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says, after the country reported its first cases of the omicron variant. Two people who arrived in Sydney from southern Africa tested positive on Sunday for the new variant as officials ordered a 14-day quarantine for citizens returning from nine African countries. Morrison said "it is a bit too early" to reinstate a two-week mandatory hotel quarantine for foreign travelers, urging people to remain calm as data had not yet fully determined the severity, transmissibility and vaccine resistance of the new strain.

11:00 a.m. Top U.S. infectious disease official, Dr. Anthony Fauci, told President Joe Biden on Sunday it will take about two weeks to have definitive information on the omicron variant that has sparked new travel curbs. Biden was briefed in person by his coronavirus response team on Sunday as officials expect the new variant to reach the U.S. despite an impending ban on travelers from southern Africa. Fauci said he believes existing vaccines are likely to provide "a degree of protection against severe cases of COVID."

10:10 a.m. Singapore and Malaysia reopen one of the world's busiest land borders, allowing vaccinated travelers to cross after nearly two years of a pandemic-related closure. The sudden closing in March 2020 left tens of thousands of people stranded on both sides, separated from families and fearing for their jobs. Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is due to make his first official visit as premier to Singapore on Monday.

10:00 a.m. China reports 41 cases for Sunday, up from 23 a day earlier. Of these, 21 were locally transmitted, compared with three a day earlier. Almost all the locally transmitted cases were in Inner Mongolia, with one in Yunnan.

9:50 a.m. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says his country will consider further tightening borders as the newly discovered omicron variant spreads around the world. "We are [taking measures] with a strong sense of crisis," Kishida said, noting that Japan closed its borders to foreigners traveling from nine countries including South Africa as of Sunday. "As we're seeing a spread around the world, we continue to consider further measures to tighten border controls and will announce a decision at the appropriate time."

9:40 a.m. Australian shares fall more than 1% to hit a near two-month low, extending losses to a second straight day, as concerns over the omicron variant hitting economic recovery sparked a broad sell-off. The S&P/ASX 200 index fell as much as 1.36% to 7,180.3 -- its lowest level since Oct. 1 -- after a 1.73% drop on Friday. Australia on Sunday confirmed two cases of the omicron variant, jeopardizing the country's reopening plans.

8:01 a.m. Canada has confirmed its first two cases of the omicron variant, both in Ontario. "This development demonstrates that our monitoring system is working," Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says. The country had already stepped up measures for inbound travelers who had been in southern Africa within the last 14 days.

6:39 a.m. France has detected eight possible cases of the omicron variant, the Ministry for Solidarity and Health says. All flights had already been suspended from the southern African countries of South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe, it says.

5:16 a.m. The U.K. says it will convene an urgent meeting of G-7 health ministers on Monday to discuss developments on the new omicron variant. The meeting is expected to be held online.

4:21 a.m. It is not yet clear whether omicron is more transmissible or causes more severe disease than other variants, including the now-dominant delta, the World Health Organization says in an update. Research is underway to gauge whether rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in South Africa are due to omicron or other factors, the WHO says. "Initial reported infections were among university students -- younger individuals who tend to have more mild disease -- but understanding the level of severity ... will take days to several weeks" for omicron, the update says.

Sunday, Nov. 28
11:00 p.m. Vietnam's health ministry asks the government to temporarily stop flights to and from some African countries, including South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Lesotho and Mozambique, as well as pause issuing visas or travel permission related to these countries. The ministry said it has not detected any omicron cases within its borders.

4:16 p.m. Two people who traveled to Sydney from southern Africa have been found to be infected with the omicron variant.

"The two positive cases, who were asymptomatic, are in isolation in the Special Health Accommodation," the Ministry of Health for the Australian state of New South Wales says. "Both people are fully vaccinated."

The Qatar Airways flight's remaining 12 passengers from southern Africa are undergoing 14 days of hotel quarantine, while around 260 passengers and air crew members "are considered close contacts and have been directed to isolate," the Health Ministry says.

3:11 p.m. China could suffer hundreds of thousands of new infections a day if it abandons zero tolerance and adopts Western-style strategies of living with COVID-19 or opening up the country, creating "the real possibility of a colossal outbreak which would almost certainly induce an unaffordable burden to the medical system," Peking University researchers argue in a new paper.

Looking at the U.S., the U.K., Israel, Spain and France, the authors find that the American strategy would be the worst for China, with an estimated lower bound of 637,155 daily new cases and 22,364 daily severe cases.

"Our findings have raised a clear warning that, for the time being, we are not ready to embrace 'open-up' strategies resting solely on the hypothesis of herd immunity induced by vaccination advocated by certain western countries," the researchers conclude. "More efficient vaccinations or more specific treatment, preferably the combination of both, are needed before entry-exit quarantine measures and other COVID-19 response strategies in China can be safely lifted."

The statistical study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the U.S.-headquartered Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It appears in China CDC Weekly, a publication of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

2:50 p.m. The omicron variant has spread to multiple European countries, among them the U.K., Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.

1:08 p.m. Indonesia will bar international travelers arriving from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini and Nigeria, effective Monday local time.
"If there are foreign nationals who have visited any of these countries within the past 14 days, they will be denied entry to Indonesia at the Immigration Border Control," Directorate General of Immigration spokesperson Arya Pradhana Anggakara says. The DGI says it has also temporarily suspended the granting of visitor visas and temporary stay visa applications.
Indonesians entering from the eight countries and Hong Kong will also now have to quarantine in designated facilities for 14 days, but the ban will not affect delegates to Group of 20 meetings, Reuters reports. Indonesia will soon take over the G-20's rotating presidency.

6:59 a.m. Israel will ban the entry of all foreigners into the country and reintroduce counterterrorism phone-tracking technology to contain the spread of the new and potentially more contagious omicron variant first detected in South Africa. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says in a statement that the ban, pending government approval, would last 14 days. Israel, the first country to shut its borders completely over the variant, has so far confirmed one omicron case and seven other suspected cases.

5:45 a.m. Saudi Arabia will allow entry to travelers "from all countries" as long as they have received one dose of a vaccine inside the kingdom, authorities say, a day after suspending flights from seven African countries due to the omicron variant. Travelers would be allowed in from next Saturday and would need to quarantine for three days.

3:05 a.m. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and State Department advise against travel to eight southern African countries after the White House announced new travel restrictions in response to a new COVID-19 variant.

The CDC raises its travel recommendation to "Level Four: Very High" for South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho, Eswatini and Botswana, while the State Department issues parallel "Do Not Travel" advisories. On Monday, the CDC had lowered its COVID-19 travel advisory for South Africa to "Level 1: Low."

2:27 a.m. There is a reasonable chance that the newly identified omicron coronavirus variant has some degree of resistance to vaccines, England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty says. "There is a reasonable chance that at least there will be some degree of vaccine escape with this variant," Whitty tells a news conference, speaking alongside British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

12:45 a.m. The U.S. will continue to push for World Trade Organization members to agree on an intellectual property framework for COVID-19 vaccines after a major WTO ministerial meeting set for this week was postponed on Friday, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai says.

In two tweets, Tai says the postponement "is a reminder that we still have much work to do to end the pandemic."

"The United States will continue working with @WTO members to achieve a multifaceted outcome on trade and health, including an international IP framework, that supports the global pandemic response and puts the WTO in a stronger position to meet the needs of regular people," she says.

12:20 a.m. Singapore detects 1,761 new cases compared with 1,090 infections the day before as well as six new deaths. Of the new cases, 1,689 are in the community, 63 in the migrant worker dormitories and nine are imported cases, according to the Ministry of Health. The weekly infection growth rate is 0.75.

Saturday, Nov. 27
7:35 p.m. The Czech Republic is examining a suspected case of the omicron variant detected in a person who spent time in Namibia, the National Institute of Public Health says.

7:15 p.m. A minister in the German state of Hesse says the recently discovered omicron coronavirus variant had probably arrived in Germany, Reuters reports.

"Last night several omicron-typical mutations were found in a traveller returning from South Africa," tweets Kai Klose, social affairs minister in the western German state.

5:35 p.m. Japan will add Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia to its list of nations subject to tighter entry rules from Sunday, following the discovery of a new coronavirus variant in South Africa, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says.

The addition comes one day after Tokyo started requiring travelers who have recently been to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa or Zimbabwe to spend 10 days in a government-designated facility upon arrival.

4:50 p.m. Sri Lanka bars travelers from six southern African countries over concerns about the new omicron variant.

3:40 p.m. A senior Thai health official says the nation will ban entry of people traveling from eight African countries it designated as high-risk for the new omicron variant. Starting in December, travel from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, will be prohibited, according to Reuters.

11:26 a.m. Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt says the country will introduce 14-day quarantine for citizens and their dependents traveling from nine countries in southern Africa due to the new coronavirus variant omicron, according to Reuters.

South Korea halts quarantine exemptions; Australia finds another omicron case

Omicron variant fuelling ‘exponential’ rise in Covid cases, say South Africa officials [The Guardian, 2 Dec 2021]

By Virginia Harrison

The Omicron variant has fuelled a “worrying” surge in coronavirus cases in South Africa and is rapidly becoming the dominant strain, local health officials have said, as more countries including the US detected their first cases of the new strain.

The United Arab Emirates and South Korea – which is already battling a worsening outbreak and record daily infections – also confirmed cases of the Omicron variant.

Dr Michelle Groome of South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said there had been an “exponential increase” in infections over the past two weeks, from a weekly average of around 300 new cases per day to 1,000 last week, and most recently 3,500. On Wednesday, South Africa recorded 8,561 cases. A week earlier, the daily tally was 1,275.
“The degree of increase is worrying,” Groome said.

The NICD said 74% of all the virus genomes it had sequenced last month had been of the new variant, which was first found in a sample taken on 8 November in Gauteng, South Africa’s most populous province.

While key questions remain about how transmissible the Omicron variant is, which has been detected in at least two dozen countries around the world, experts are rushing to determine the level of protection afforded by vaccines. World Health Organization (WHO) epidemiologist Maria van Kerkhove told a briefing that data on how contagious Omicron was should be available “within days”.

The NICD said early epidemiological data showed Omicron was able to evade some immunity, but exisiting vaccines should still protect against severe disease and death. BioNTech’s chief executive, Uğur Şahin, said the vaccine it makes in a partnership with Pfizer was likely to offer strong protection against severe disease from Omicron.

As governments wait for a fuller picture to emerge, many continued to tighten border restrictions in the hope of stopping the virus spread.

South Korea imposed more travel curbs as it detected its first five Omicron cases and fears grew about how the new variant could affect its ongoing Covid surge.

Authorities halted quarantine exemptions for fully vaccinated inbound travellers for two weeks, who now require a 10-day quarantine.

Daily infections in South Korea hit a record on Thursday of more than 5,200, with concern growing over the sharp rise in patients with severe symptoms.

Earlier this month restrictions were eased in the country – which has fully vaccinated nearly 92% of adults – however infections have surged since and the presence of Omicron has fuelled fresh worries about pressure on the already strained hospital system.

In Europe, the president of the European Union’s executive body said there was a “race against time” to stave off the new variant while scientists established how dangerous it is. The EU brought forward the start of its vaccine rollout for five-to-11-year-olds by a week, to 13 December.

“Prepare for the worst, hope for the best,” Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, told a news conference.

Britain and the United States have both expanded their booster programs in response to the new variant, while Australia is reviewing its schedule.

Top American infectious diseases specialist Anthony Fauci stressed that fully vaccinated adults should seek a booster when eligible to give themselves the best possible protection.

Still, the WHO has noted many times that the coronavirus will keep producing new variants for as long as it is allowed to circulate freely in large unvaccinated populations.

“Globally, we have a toxic mix of low vaccine coverage, and very low testing – a recipe for breeding and amplifying variants,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reminding the world that the Delta variant “accounts for almost all cases”.

“We need to use the tools we already have to prevent transmission and save lives from Delta.

And if we do that, we will also prevent transmission and save lives from Omicron,” he said.

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un warns of ‘very giant struggle’ [Aljazeera.com, 2 Dec 2021]

North Korean leader says country must make progress in defence, agriculture and construction amid economic difficulties.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said the country must be prepared for a “very giant struggle” next year to continue to make progress in areas including defence, agriculture and construction, state media reported on Thursday.

Kim made the remarks on Wednesday at a meeting of the central committee of the ruling Worker’s Party’s politburo, which decided to hold a plenary meeting of the committee next month.

Kim said that while the country still faces economic difficulties, the party has had success in pushing to meet policy targets and implementing the five-year economic plan he unveiled early this year, the official KCNA news agency said.

Food and electricity shortages
“It is very encouraging that the positive changes were made in the overall state affairs including politics, economy, culture, and national defence as evidenced by the stable management of the state economy and big successes made in the agricultural and construction sectors,” Kim said.

“Next year will be an important one as we should wage a very giant struggle as much as we did this year,” he said.

Kim has sought to boost the economy and power supply with his plan, but UN agencies have said food and electricity shortages remain, exacerbated by sanctions imposed over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes, the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters.

North Korea has not confirmed any coronavirus cases, but has closed borders and imposed domestic travel restrictions and other measures, apparently to control or prevent an outbreak.

New Coronavirus News from 1 Dec 2021

South Korea's 5 Omicron Cases All Connected to Travel to Nigeria [Newsweek, 1 Dec 2021]

BY KATIE WERMUS

South Korea confirmed Wednesday that five cases of Omicron were connected to people traveling from Nigeria last week.

The Associated Press reported that two of the cases involving the new variant are linked to women who went to Nigeria and flew back to South Korea on November 23.

The three remaining cases are connected to a couple who traveled from Nigeria to South Korea on November 24, and their friend who picked them up from an airport and drove them home.

The couple was fully vaccinated, but the friend who picked them up and their teenage child were not vaccinated, said Choi Seung-ho, an official with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

Health care workers said they're running a genetic sequencing test on the teenager and the relatives of the friend who drove the couple home to see if anyone has been infected with the new variant.

So far the four individuals have not experienced any severe symptoms. They're reported mild respiratory symptoms and muscle pain, said Park Young-joon, another KDCA official.

With the arrival of the new Omicron variant, South Korea announced new travel restrictions to go into effect for at least two weeks for all passengers. Everyone arriving from out of the country, regardless of their vaccination or citizenship status, must quarantine for at least 10 days.

Austria's COVID-19 lockdown extended to Dec. 11 [Fox News, 1 Dec 2021]

This is the country's fourth lockdown

Austria's lockdown has officially been extended until Dec. 11 as planned amid signs that the measures are helping to bring down a sky-high coronavirus infection rate.

A parliamentary committee signed off Tuesday on the extension of the country's fourth national lockdown of the pandemic, which started on Nov. 22, the Austria Press Agency reported. That was necessary because some lockdown measures can only be ordered for 10 days at a time.

There is one significant change: essential shops that so far were allowed to open until 9 p.m. will have to close by 7 p.m. starting Thursday. And the rules now allow explicitly for the sale of Christmas trees.

The government imposed lockdown as COVID-19 deaths rose and hospitals in hard-hit regions warned that intensive care units were reaching capacity. Austria also pledged to be the first European country to mandate vaccines beginning Feb. 1.

Under the lockdown, people can leave their homes only for specific reasons, including buying groceries, going to the doctor or exercising. Day care centers and schools remained open for those who need them, but parents were asked to keep children at home if possible.

What happens after Dec. 11 will depend on the situation then, but officials say lockdown restrictions will remain for the unvaccinated. Austria has a relatively low vaccination rate for Western Europe, with just under 67% of the population fully vaccinated.

The country's seven-day infection rate has begun to decline. It stood at 894.2 cases per 100,000 residents on Tuesday, down from more than 1,100 on the day the lockdown started.

Is New York City Ready for the Omicron Variant? [The New York Times, 1 Dec 2021]

By Joseph Goldstein

As reports of the new Omicron variant began to circulate the world late last week, scientists in Queens who search for mutations in coronavirus samples drawn from infected New York City residents double-checked their work to see if they had missed any cases. They hadn’t.

But even if the new variant, which has been detected in California, has not reached the city yet, health officials say it remains just a matter of time before it does. “We do anticipate detecting Omicron in New York in the coming days,” the city’s health commissioner, Dr. Dave Chokshi, said on Monday.

The question now is whether Omicron could plunge the city back into a period of spiking case counts and hospitalizations, lockdowns and isolation. Or will it be much like the Delta variant, which provoked anxiety when it arrived six months ago, but did not significantly change daily life in the city?

The answer will depend mainly on whether the new variant proves to be more contagious, more deadly or more resistant to vaccines than Delta and previous mutations — questions scientists may take weeks to answer.

Here are some things to know about New York and the Omicron variant:
This could be the fourth variant to hit the city in 2021

New York City has already weathered rising caseloads from three coronavirus variants this year. First there was a homegrown variant, called B.1.526 or Iota, which spread rapidly from January to March. That was followed this spring by the highly transmissible Alpha variant, first identified in Britain. Then by summer came the even more highly transmissible Delta variant, which caused a small wave of infections and then subsided in October before rising again in November.

Each new variant provoked worry. But so far, the coronavirus has been diminishing as a threat, after the devastating first wave last year. The long second wave that stretched from the autumn of 2020 to this spring saw far fewer infections and deaths than the first, even as several strains of Covid-19 spread.

The pattern of diminishing waves is different than what has been seen in much of the country and owes something to New York City’s relatively high rate of vaccination — about 77 percent of residents of all ages have received at least one shot.

There are other factors: Considerable levels of natural immunity from the devastation of the first wave in spring 2020. A willingness to wear masks. Widely available testing and a robust public health apparatus.

“I think we are potentially more prepared than most,” said Dr. Bernard Camins, an infectious diseases specialist and medical director of infection prevention for the Mount Sinai Health System. “The question is whether at this point people are more fatigued from all those mitigation strategies, and they may not listen.”

What happens next turns mainly on the variant
Initial reports suggest this variant might be especially contagious. But little is known about Omicron’s virulence, or what protection existing coronavirus vaccines offer.

“We do expect the vaccines to retain some degree of effectiveness, but precisely how much will take a few weeks to clarify,” Dr. Chokshi said on Monday. “We’re counseling, you know, a bit of patience as the science sorts itself out.”

But Dr. Denis Nash, an epidemiology professor at CUNY School of Public Health, warns that “if this is more transmissible than Delta or more virulent, or more evasive of the immune protection that the vaccine provides,” then the city “could be susceptible to a surge.”

Amid these unknowns, Mayor Bill de Blasio had some blunt advice: Get vaccinated, or get a booster shot, and “get those masks back on now,” he said on Monday. Fewer than 20 percent of adult residents have gotten their booster shot.

The Coronavirus Pandemic: Latest Updates

In particular, he urged parents to get their children vaccinated. Just 17 percent of 5- to 11-year-olds have received a first dose since they became eligible a month ago. “It’s time,” he said.

Even without Omicron, cases have been rising
Since Nov. 1, daily case counts have risen more than 75 percent, reaching 1,500 newly identified cases a day last week. The rise, driven by the Delta variant, has been steepest in Queens, a borough with vaccination rates well above the citywide average.

The increase, epidemiologists say, is likely caused by the changing of the seasons, with colder weather pushing people indoors and prompting them to close windows, raising the risk of transmission. Cold, drier air may also benefit the coronavirus by helping viral particles to survive and linger in the air for longer.

Holiday travel and gatherings could also accelerate transmission.

One disease model from a team at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, which predated Omicron, predicted about 10 deaths a day from Delta in the weeks ahead, according to a member of the team, Dr. Ronald Scott Braithwaite, a professor at N.Y.U. and an adviser to the city. At an earlier point this year, during the height of last winter’s wave, there were as many as 98 Covid-19 deaths in a single day.

In New York City, the Delta variant is expected to drive only a minor surge in cases. But it is creating a potentially dire situation in Western New York, where last week, the number of coronavirus patients admitted to hospitals on a single day — 120 on Nov. 26 — was the highest in the region since the start of the pandemic.

Surveillance and testing systems are strong
As new forms of the virus began to emerge across the globe early this year, New York City began cobbling together its own surveillance system. Turning to universities, hospitals and other laboratories, the city set out to analyze at least 10 percent of coronavirus cases in New York for mutations.

The Pandemic Response Lab, a private start-up that opened last year, quickly became a big player in this effort. By early this year, it was sequencing — examining genetic material for mutations — hundreds of coronavirus cases each week, and offering insights into how different variants were circulating across the city.

The Omicron variant. The latest Covid-19 variant was identified on Nov. 25 by scientists in South Africa and has since been detected in more than 20 countries, including the U.S., which reported its first case on Dec. 1. Should you be concerned? Here are answers to common questions about this variant.

Biden’s winter Covid plan. As Omicron reaches the U.S., President Biden announced a new pandemic strategy that includes hundreds of family-centered vaccination sites, booster shots for all adults, new testing requirements for international travelers and insurance reimbursement for at-home tests.

New travel restrictions and lockdowns. Germany has announced tough restrictions on unvaccinated people, barring them from many aspects of public life. Japan, Israel and Morocco have stopped all foreign travelers, and Australia delayed reopening its borders. Here’s where U.S. citizens can travel right now and what to know about travel restrictions.

Shifting views on boosters among experts. For months, many public health experts have opposed plans to roll out Covid booster shots to all adults. But as Omicron gains ground, researchers are changing their minds, and now believe that the shots may offer the best defense against the new variant.

About 15 percent of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the city are sequenced, a number some epidemiologists hope will grow. In recent months, just about every virus sample run through genome sequencing machines has turned out to be the Delta variant, said Dr. Jon Laurent, who oversees the Pandemic Response Lab’s sequencing program.

New York City is focusing on vaccines and boosters
When the coronavirus reached New York early last year, New York’s officials, including then-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Mr. de Blasio, were slow to act.

Citing this history, a reporter asked Mr. de Blasio on Monday why he was merely recommending mask wearing, rather than imposing interventions like a mask mandate until more about Omicron was understood.

Mr. de Blasio said that he worried that a mask mandate would prove a distraction from the city’s main goal: getting vaccines and booster shots into more people.

“What we do not want to do is mix messages about what’s the thing that actually has the most profound impact,” Mr. de Blasio said. “The thing that we need to do with urgency is get people vaccinated.”

Dr. Jay Varma, an epidemiologist who has helped guide New York City’s pandemic response as a mayoral adviser, says that like Delta, Omicron could take months to spread widely in New York, giving the city time to nudge more residents to get vaccinations or boosters, and convince more companies to impose vaccine requirements.

Nearly 89 percent of adults in New York City have gotten at least one dose — six percentage points higher than the national average. In recent months, the city raised the vaccination rate through mandates for municipal employees and by imposing restrictions on people who are not vaccinated.

Yet the rate is uneven. Though the gap has shrunk, Black residents are less likely to be vaccinated than other groups, particularly among younger people; just 57 percent of Black New Yorkers between 18 and 44 have gotten at least one dose of a vaccine. And children younger than 5 still remain ineligible for vaccination.

Public health experts also worry that nursing homes are underprotected.

As of last week, only 51.4 percent of the nearly 92,000 nursing home residents statewide had received a booster shot, according to the state Department of Health. Across the city, there are more than 30 nursing homes where fewer than 25 percent of residents have received booster shots.

“I find it highly, highly distressing,” said Dr. Nash, the epidemiology professor. “I’m afraid it will be a travesty with a lot of avoidable deaths.”

South Korea exports soar as Omicron looms [Aljazeera.com, 1 Dec 2021]

South Korea’s exports in November were the largest monthly figure on record, driven by rising prices and volumes.

South Korean exports grew at their fastest pace in three months in November thanks to post-pandemic recoveries in big trading partners that pushed up demand for chips and petrochemicals, but the Omicron variant may pose risk to the export-reliant economy.

Exports in November soared 32.1 percent from a year earlier, the sharpest since August and largely beating the 27.7 percent growth seen in a Reuters poll. That also marked a ninth-straight month of double-digit expansion.

Total exports stood at $60.44bn in November, the largest monthly figure on record, Trade Ministry data showed.

The result bodes well for a Korean economy that has relied on exports to underpin growth amid on-again, off-again COVID-19 restrictions that hampered recovery in household spending. The approaching holiday season likely provided a fillip to overseas demand, while stabilisation in China’s manufacturing sector offered additional support.

“Wednesday’s export data looks pretty good. Despite worries about easing Chinese demand and a slowdown in semiconductor industry, exports are seen resilient,” said Park Sang-hyun, chief economist at Hi Investment & Securities.

“The development of the Omicron variant and supply chain issues are the most important variables to exports, but for now, it looks like the recovery momentum will continue in December and throughout 2022.”

Thirteen of 15 key items posted a growth in sales, with those of semiconductors, petrochemicals and vessels surging 40.1 percent, 63 percent and 237.6 percent, respectively. Exports of car components slid 2.2 percent as an auto chip shortage disrupted global car production.

Meanwhile, exports to all nine chief trading partners grew, with those to China, the United States and the European Union rising 27.1 percent, 22 percent and 18.9 percent respectively.

Vaccine maker Moderna’s chief executive on Tuesday cast doubt on the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines against the variant, spooking financial markets and heightening worries about further supply chain disruption.

South Korea reported a record 5,123 coronavirus cases for Tuesday but no Omicron case has been reported so far.

Wednesday’s data also showed imports surged 43.6 percent year-on-year, also beating the forecast of 40.5 percent expansion and standing at $57.36bn. That brought the trade surplus to $3.09bn.

November’s export performance was a combination of rising prices and volumes, the ministry said. Export prices rose 22.1 percent, while volume gained 8.2 percent.

S. Korea confirms 1st cases of Omicron coronavirus variant: report [Kyodo News Plus, 1 Dec 2021]

South Korea has confirmed its first cases of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, Yonhap News Agency reported Wednesday citing health authorities, increasing concerns over COVID-19 amid a surge in infections of the existing Delta strain.

Five people, including a married couple who had visited Nigeria from Nov. 14 to 23 and their friend, have tested positive for the Omicron variant in genetic sequencing tests, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said, according to the report.

The couple were fully vaccinated, the agency said in the report. The two and their friend, all in their 40s, have shown no significant symptoms other than respiratory and muscle pains, health officials said.

It is suspected that the couple's teenage son is also infected with the variant, according to the report. The test result for the son is expected to be announced later this week.

Before confirming the first Omicron cases, Seoul reported that its daily count of coronavirus cases the previous day had surpassed 5,000 for the first time.

The agency said 5,123 COVID-19 infection cases were newly detected on Tuesday, surpassing the previous high of 4,115 recorded on Nov. 23. The number of critically ill patients has reached a record 723.

The government eased virus curbs on Nov. 1 as part of its "living with COVID-19" policy but halted the implementation on Monday following the surge in cases.

Nearly 80 percent of South Koreans have been fully vaccinated, but health authorities have been urging people to take booster shots following a rise in so-called breakthrough infections of those already inoculated.

South Korea confirms 5 Omicron variant coronavirus cases [Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec 2021]

SEOUL —
South Korea on Wednesday confirmed its first five coronavirus cases with the new Omicron variant in people linked to arrivals from Nigeria, prompting the government to tighten the country’s borders.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, or KDCA, said Wednesday that the cases included a couple who arrived from Nigeria on Nov. 24 and a friend who drove them home from the airport. The two other cases were women who also traveled to Nigeria and returned to South Korea on Nov. 23.

Health workers earlier said they were conducting genetic sequencing tests on a child of the couple and relatives of the man who drove them home to determine whether they were infected.

Following the confirmation of the Omicron infections, South Korea announced that it would require all passengers arriving from abroad over the next two weeks to quarantine for at least 10 days, regardless of their nationality or vaccination status.

The country had already banned short-term foreign travelers arriving from eight southern African nations, including South Africa, starting Sunday to fend off the Omicron variant, which is seen as potentially more infectious than other versions of the virus. Officials say the same rules will now apply to foreigners coming from Nigeria.

The couple who arrived from Nigeria on Nov. 24 were fully vaccinated, but their teenage child and the friend who drove them were unvaccinated, said Choi Seung-ho, a KDCA official. Park Young-joon, another KDCA official, said the four weren’t exhibiting serious illness aside from mild respiratory symptoms or muscle pain.

Dec. 1, 2021
While Omicron’s emergence has triggered global alarm and spurred countries to tighten their borders, scientists say it’s not yet clear whether the variant is more contagious or dangerous than other strains, including the Delta variant.

The detection of South Korea’s first Omicron cases came as a Delta-driven surge leaves the nation grappling with its worst wave of the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.

Wednesday also saw the country’s new daily cases exceed 5,000 for the first time, and the spike in transmissions is pushing hospitalizations and deaths to record highs.

Amid growing fears about overwhelmed hospitals, health experts have urged officials to reimpose stricter social-distancing rules that were eased last month to soften the pandemic’s impact on the economy.

KDCA said most of the new 5,123 cases came from the capital, Seoul, and the surrounding metropolitan region, where officials say nearly 90% of intensive care units designated for COVID-19 patients are already occupied.

Nov. 30, 2021
More than 720 COVID-19 patients were in serious or critical condition, also a new high.

Son Youngrae, a senior Health Ministry official, said nearly 12,000 coronavirus carriers were being treated from home as of Wednesday morning.

US announces first Omicron case in traveler returning from S.Africa [FRANCE 24, 1 Dec 2021]

Top health official Anthony Fauci said authorities "knew it was just a matter of time" before the strain was found in the country, reminding Americans that vaccination, boosters and masking in indoor public settings remained the best way to stay protected.

According to a statement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the person returned from South Africa on November 22, and their close contacts have all tested negative.

Speaking to reporters, Fauci added that the patient tested positive on November 29, and that they had not received a booster, to the best of his knowledge.

Some early press reports regarding the Omicron variant have suggested it might confer more mild illness, but Fauci cautioned reading too much into these until more hard data was available.

"We feel good that this patient not only had mild symptoms, but actually the symptoms appear to be improving," he said.

"But as we said, there's a lot of information that is now evolving out of countries like South Africa that have a much larger number of individuals" with the variant, he added.

Such data should follow in the coming weeks and months.

While the person involved was fully vaccinated, Fauci stressed a Covid booster remained a good idea because it raises the number of overall antibodies in a person's immune system, some of which will remain effective at stopping new variants.

"Our experience with variants such as the Delta variant, is that even though the vaccine isn't specifically targeted to the Delta variant, when you get a high enough level of an immune response, you get spillover protection," he said.

Fauci also defended the travel ban the US had placed on southern African countries, which UN Chief Antonio Guterres has slammed as "unfair" and "ineffective."

"We needed to buy some time to be able to prepare, understand what's going on," he said.
"We wanted to make sure that we didn't all of a sudden say it's like anything else, don't worry about it, and then all of a sudden, something unfolds in front of you that you're really not prepared for. So we look at this as a temporary measure."

To prepare for Omicron, the US is planning tougher testing and weighing quarantine requirements for international travelers arriving in the country, including taking a Covid-19 test one day prior to departure, the CDC said Wednesday.

South Korea detects first Omicron cases, tightens travel curbs [FRANCE 24, 1 Dec 2021]

Health authorities said Omicron was detected in five people, including a fully vaccinated couple who had visited Nigeria from November 14 to 23, returning two days before the variant was officially reported by South Africa.
They tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, and subsequent genetic sequencing tests showed it was the new variant, said the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). It said their friend also had Omicron.

While much is still unknown about Omicron, its emergence has fuelled fears in South Korea and around the world that it could intensify Covid-19 outbreaks.

The WHO believes the high number of mutations on this variant may make it more transmissible or resistant to vaccines, but it could take weeks to determine whether and to what extent Omicron is vaccine-resistant.

It has warned against blanket travel bans, but dozens of governments around the world have rushed to impose restrictions -- mostly against southern African nations -- as the variant spreads.

As South Korea reported its first Omicron infections, it also announced a tightening of travel restrictions, including a suspension of direct flights to Ethiopia for two weeks.

It said all travellers entering the country will be tested for the new variant.

And from Friday for two weeks, all arrivals -- South Koreans and foreigners -- will have to quarantine for 10 days regardless of their vaccination status, KDCA said.

Earlier, exemptions were available in a number of cases, such as fully vaccinated South Korean nationals.

The government had already stopped issuing visas and arrivals of non-nationals from eight African countries, and added Nigeria to that list on Wednesday.

The detection of South Korea's first Omicron cases came the same day the country reported more than 5,100 new daily infections, the highest since the beginning of the pandemic.

More than 80 percent of the country's population has been fully vaccinated.

On the back of the rapid immunisation programme, authorities eased Covid restrictions earlier this month as they started rolling out their plan to live with the virus.

However, there has been a surge in infections since -- new daily infections have more than doubled in recent weeks, and authorities have warned about the growing pressure on the healthcare system.

Omicron travel bans harming global cooperation, WHO warns: Live [Aljazeera.com, 1 Dec 2021]

By Farah Najjar and Usaid Siddiqui

UN warns travel bans are hindering the sharing of samples from South Africa that could shed light on the new variant.

The World Health Organization has said travel bans are having an impact on global cooperation against the Omicron coronavirus variant by delaying the sharing of laboratory samples from South Africa that could help research into the new strain.

Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead on COVID-19, said that South African researchers have been keen to share information, data, and samples, but that travel bans “have caused some challenges for those samples to actually be shipped out of the country”.

Scientists have been scrambling to learn more about the effects of the Omicron variant, first detected in South Africa last week. It has now been reported in at least 24 countries.

While remains unclear where or when the variant first emerged, nations have rushed to impose travel restrictions, especially on visitors coming from Southern Africa, despite the WHO’s call for “rational” measures in response to the new strain.

The first confirmed case of the Omicron variant in the United States has been detected in a person in California, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday.

Here are the latest updates:
Portuguese league orders players to get tested ahead of every match
Portugal’s soccer league said othat all professional players must get tested for COVID-19 ahead of every match after a game had to be abandoned last week due to an outbreak.

The league said in a statement that it had informed clubs that all players must take an antigen test 48 hours before a match and said masks must be used on the bench.

Lisbon club Belenenses SAD started with only nine players in their Primeira Liga match against Benfica on Saturday, with the rest of the squad isolating at home after a number of players and staff tested positive for COVID-19.

Brazil reports third Omicron case
Health officials confirmed Brazil’s third known case of the Omicron coronavirus variant as the government examined possible new measures to contain the virus.

A passenger from Ethiopia tested positive for COVID-19 upon landing in Sao Paulo on November 27, the state’s health secretariat said in a statement.

The 29 year-old man is vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer shot and is in good health, officials said.

Lebanon declares nighttime curfew for the unvaccinated
Lebanon will impose a nighttime curfew starting on December 17 for non-vaccinated people for three weeks and will make full vaccination mandatory for all workers in several sectors due to concerns over the spread of coronavirus, the COVID-19 committee said on Wednesday.

Vaccination will be mandatory for all civil servants and workers in the health, education, tourism and public transport sectors as of January 10, the committee said.

Lebanon has not recorded any infections with Omicron, but the small country enduring a severe financial crisis is concerned its health care system will not be handle a new peak of infections.

Lebanon’s Health Minister Firass Abiad said the COVID committee wants to avoid imposing a full lockdown.

UAE announces its first case of the new COVID-19 variant: Local media
The United Arab Emirates has announced its first case of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron.

The state news agency WAM reported that the infected person was an African woman arriving from an African country through an Arab country.

UAE is the second Gulf country to detect an Omicron case after Saudi Arabia announced its first case earlier on Wednesday.

South Africa reports surge in COVID cases
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said 8,561 new cases were reported nationwide over 24 hours, up from almost 4,400 on Tuesday and 2,300 on Monday.

There had been an “exponential increase” over the past two weeks, from a weekly average of around 300 new cases per day to 1,000 last week and most recently 3,500, said Michelle Groome of NCID noted.

First confirmed Omicron case detected in US
Health officials in California have detected the first confirmed case of the Omicron coronavirus variant in the United States. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that the case involved a traveller who returned from South Africa on November 22.

“The individual, who was fully vaccinated and had mild symptoms that are improving, is self-quarantining and has been since testing positive. All close contacts have been contacted and have tested negative,” the CDC said.

Travel bans over Omicron ‘unfair,’ ‘ineffective’: Guterres
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said travel restrictions imposed over COVID-19 that isolate any one country or region as “not only deeply unfair and punitive – they are ineffective”.

“With a virus that is truly borderless, travel restrictions that isolate any one country or region are not only deeply unfair and punitive – they are ineffective,” Guterres said at a news conference, calling instead for increased testing for travellers.

Guterres said countries that had reported the emergence of the new strain should not “be collectively punished for identifying and sharing crucial science and health information with the world.”

Passengers from Doha or Dubai must take mandatory COVID test: Denmark
All airline passengers entering Denmark from Doha or Dubai must take a mandatory COVID-19 test, a move aimed at delaying the spread of the new Omicron variant, Danish health minister Magnus Heunicke said.

“People who land from Dubai and Doha must have a test before they leave the airport,” Heunicke told a news briefing.

UK records more than 48,000 new COVID cases
Britain reported 48,374 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday and 171 more deaths within 28 days of a positive test, official data showed.

The total number of deaths has now reached 145,140 while there have been 10.2 million positive cases, the figures showed.

Italy reports 103 coronavirus deaths
Italy reported 103 coronavirus-related deaths against 89 the day before, the health ministry said, while the daily tally of new infections rose to 15,085 from 12,764.

The count marks the first time Italy reported more than 100 daily coronavirus deaths since June 8.

Travel bans having an impact on global cooperation against new variant: WHO The World Health Organization says travel bans by countries are having an impact on global cooperation against the new Omicron variant by causing “challenges” to the sharing of laboratory samples from South Africa that can help get better grips on the new variant.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for “tailored” intervention by countries, including testing travellers before and after they arrive in a country, and advised against “blanket travel bans” that “place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods.”

Omicron present in five out of nine South Africa provinces: Institute
The Omicron variant has been detected in five out of nine South African provinces and accounted for 74 percent of the virus genomes sequenced in November, data from the country’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases showed.

WHO expects to have more information on Omicron transmission ‘within days’
The UN agency WHO expects to have more information on the transmissibility of the Omicron strain within days, its technical lead on COVID-19, Maria van Kerkhove, said in a briefing.

That was faster than the “weeks” the WHO had predicted last week that it would take to assess the data available on the variant after designating it a “variant of concern”, its highest rating.

She said one possible scenario was that the new variant, which was first reported in southern Africa, may be more transmissible than the dominant Delta variant. She said it was not yet known if Omicron makes people more ill.

WHO warns of ‘toxic mix’ of low vaccine coverage and testing
The World Health Organization warned a “toxic mix” of low testing rates and vaccination coverage was creating fertile breeding ground for new coronavirus variants.

The WHO said measures to stop the globally-dominant Delta variant would also hinder Omicron, first discovered in November in southern Africa and which has since rattled countries around the world.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on countries to optimise their public health and social measures to control the spread of COVID-19.

EU chief calls for ‘discussion’ on mandatory COVID jabs
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU should hold discussions on mandatory vaccinations against COVID-19.

Even though it is up individual member states to decide whether to make vaccines mandatory, von der Leyen called for a common approach and a discussion at the EU level.

“I think it is understandable and appropriate to lead this discussion now, how we can encourage and potentially think about mandatory vaccination within the European Union, this needs discussion,” she said.

South Korea reports first five cases of Omicron
South Korea confirmed its first five cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant in people linked to arrivals from Nigeria, prompting the government to tighten the country’s borders.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said the cases include a couple who arrived from Nigeria on November 24 and a friend who drove them home from the airport.

The two other cases were women who also travelled to Nigeria and returned to South Korea on November 23.

German ICUs expect COVID surge to hit hospitals at Christmas: Health association
Germany is likely to reach a peak of its fourth wave of COVID-19 infections by mid-December and this could mean 6,000 intensive care beds occupied by Christmas, the country’s association for intensive care medicine (DIVI) said.

Andreas Schuppert, a forecaster for the DIVI association, told a news conference he was “moderately optimistic” the peak in new cases would come in the next two weeks, but warned this would take time to have its full impact on hospitals.

“It is an ominous situation,” DIVI president Gernot Marx told reporters. “We would be well advised to react immediately. We must get ahead of the situation.”

Hello. This is Usaid Siddiqui taking over from my colleague Farah Najar in Doha, Qatar.
France to lift ban on Southern Africa flights from Saturday

France has said it will start allowing flights from Southern Africa to land on its territory from Saturday, but with “drastic” restrictions allowing only French and European Union residents to disembark, along with diplomats and flight crews.

These travellers must undergo a COVID test upon arrival, with a negative result still requiring a seven-day quarantine, while a positive test will require a 10-day quarantine, said government spokesman Gabriel Attal after a weekly cabinet meeting.

Vietnam to suspend flights to, from seven African countries
Vietnam will suspend flights to and from seven African countries over concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant, state media reported.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has approved the suspension, the Lao Dong newspaper reported, without saying when the move will come into effect.

All travellers from outside EU need negative COVID test: France
Travellers reaching France from outside the EU will be subject to the obligation of a negative COVID-19 test, regardless of their vaccination status, French government spokesman Gabrial Attal has said.

Talking to journalists after a government meeting, Attal said decisions regarding intra-EU travel would be coordinated by European leaders later this week.

Portugal will tighten COVID curbs around Christmas if needed: PM
Portugal’s government will not hesitate to impose restrictions during the Christmas festival if they are needed to control a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, Prime Minister Antonio Costa has said.

Despite having one of the world’s highest vaccination rates, a recent uptick in infections and the emergence of the Omicron variant has prompted the government to reimpose some restrictions since Wednesday.

When asked if the government might take further restrictive measures during Christmas, Costa said: “We all wish that these measures are not necessary, but if they become necessary, we will take these measures.

“We must always be vigilant to take new measures, if necessary. That’s how we’ve been living for the past two years and we’ve managed to prevail, although it’s been hard for everyone,” Costa told reporters.

Ghana records first cases of Omicron variant
Ghana’s health ministry has detected the country’s first cases of the Omicron variant in passengers who arrived at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra following sequencing that was carried out on November 21, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service said.

EU pushes for daily travel reviews, mass booster shots

The EU needs daily reviews of its travel restrictions and rapid deployment of vaccine booster doses to limit entry and protect its citizens from the Omicron variant, the European Commission has said.

Europe is experiencing a surge of COVID-19 cases and a growing number of infections by the Omicron variant.

“We are now facing a double challenge in the fight against COVID-19,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a tweet. “The rapid resurgence of Delta across Europe and a new variant of concern: Omicron.”

Norway detects its first two Omicron cases, municipality says
Norway has identified its first two cases of the Omicron variant, the west coast municipality of Oeygarden said.

The two infected people had been on a trip to South Africa. Both of them are currently recovering from the infection, Mayor Tom Georg Indrevik said in a statement.

Norway on Friday decided to impose a quarantine on any travellers arriving from South Africa or neighbouring countries, following a similar decision by Denmark.

Uzbekistan restricts travel over Omicron concerns
Uzbekistan has said it would suspend flights to and from Hong Kong, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Tanzania and South Africa from December 3 to curb the spread of the Omicron variant.

The Central Asian nation’s health ministry said residents of those nations and people who have recently visited them would be unable to enter Uzbekistan, while those arriving from Egypt, Israel, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic would be quarantined for 10 days.

Countries launch WHO pandemic accord talks
World Health Organization member states agreed to start work on building a new international accord setting out how to handle the next global pandemic.

Countries adopted a resolution at a special meeting in Geneva, launching the process that should result in a new agreement on pandemic preparedness and response coming into force in 2024.

“The text before us is the product of extensive discussions, of frank exchanges and of compromises,” said Australia’s ambassador Sally Mansfield, who co-chaired the working group.
“Let us move forward together in solidarity to do the hard work that we have ahead of us.”

Saudi Arabia confirms first case of Omicron variant
Saudi Arabia has detected its first case of the new Omicron variant, the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) has reported.

Quoting a source from the health ministry, SPA said the infected individual has been isolated along with those who were in close contact with them.

It is the first Omicron variant case reported in the Gulf region. The health ministry said the person was a Saudi national who had travelled from a North African country, without giving further details.

The Saudi ministry urged people to complete their vaccination and ordered travellers to respect self-isolation and testing rules.

Danish concert-goer confirmed infected with Omicron variant
A person infected with the Omicron variant participated in a large concert on Saturday, the Danish Patient Safety Authority has said.

The person was one of 1,600 people attending a concert with Danish DJ Martin Jensen in the northern city of Aalborg on Saturday.

Denmark has already confirmed four cases of the new Omicron variant, all of whom had travelled to South Africa.

A spokesperson for the Danish Patient Safety Authority could not verify if the infected concert-goer had been travelling.

EU launch of COVID shot for younger children advanced to Dec 13
The EU-wide rollout of Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine version for five- to 11-year-old children will begin on December 13, one week earlier than previously planned, Germany’s health ministry has said.

Germany is due to receive 2.4 million doses for use as a two-dose regimen, the ministry said, adding it has a commitment on the new date from the manufacturer.

“Given the current pandemic situation, this is good news for parents and children. Many are awaiting this eagerly,” acting Health Minister Jens Spahn said in the statement.

First two cases of Omicron variant detected in Brazil The first two cases of the Omicron variant were detected in Brazil, which could also be the first cases in Latin America.

Samples from two Brazilians who tested positive for the variant through the renowned Albert Einstein Hospital would be sent for confirmatory laboratory analysis, a statement from Brazil’s health surveillance agency Anvisa said.

According to the news portal G1, the cases involve Brazilian missionaries living in South Africa.

UK urges people to book booster shots as Omicron cases grow
British Health Secretary Sajid Javid has urged people to book a COVID-19 booster shot as he said there were 22 confirmed cases of the Omicron virus variant in the country.

Javid said the government believed a booster campaign would help protect against severe disease from Omicron, even if it turns out that vaccines are not as effective against the variant as previous strains of the disease.

Britain plans to offer all adults a COVID-19 booster shot by the end of January. Government data shows 81 percent of the population aged above 12 have had two doses of the vaccine, while 32 percent have had a booster shot or third dose.

Closing borders not the ‘answer’, WHO’s Nicksy Gumede-Moeletsi says Dr Nicksy Gumede-Moeletsi of WHO Africa has said they are trying to warn other countries of the “emergency that might be coming through”, adding that shutting down borders is not the answer.

“Those countries, they’re going to … try their level best to get prepared,” she said.
“But closing the borders, or banning certain countries from entering – I don’t think is the answer.”

If you’re not vaccinated, get vaccinated: Fauci
Dr Anthony Fauci, the US’s top infectious disease official, has urged those who are not vaccinated to get the jab, and those who are, to seek a booster shot.

“If you’re not vaccinated, get vaccinated,” Fauci said. “Get boosted if you are vaccinated,” he added.

He also called on people to continue to use the “mitigation methods”, such as wearing “masks, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces”.

“Choose outdoors rather than indoors, keep your distance, wash your hands, test and isolate if appropriate,” he added.

France extends suspension of flights from high-risk Southern African countries
France has decided to extend until at least Saturday its suspension of flights from Southern African countries which have been hit hard by the Omicron variant, said French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune.

“As of this morning, we have extended the suspension of flights from seven Southern African countries until Saturday,” Beaune told RTL radio.

Air travellers to US set to face tougher COVID-19 testing
The US is moving to require that all air travellers entering the country show a negative COVID-19 test performed within one day of departure in response to concerns about the new Omicron variant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

Currently, vaccinated international air travellers can present a negative test result obtained within three days from their point of departure. Nearly all foreign nationals must be vaccinated to enter the United States. Unvaccinated travellers currently must get a negative COVID-19 test within one day of arrival.

The new one-day testing requirement would apply equally to US citizens as well as foreign nationals.

Japan halts new incoming flight bookings over Omicron strain
Japan has asked airlines to stop taking new incoming flight bookings over concerns about the Omicron variant, the transport ministry said.

“We have asked airlines to halt accepting all new incoming flight reservations for one month starting December 1,” a transport ministry official told the AFP news agency, adding that existing bookings would not be affected.

German state reports four fully vaccinated people infected with Omicron Four people in southern Germany have tested positive for the Omicron variant even though they were fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, the public health office in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg said.

Three of the infected people returned from a business trip to South Africa on November 26 and November 27 respectively, and the fourth person is a family member of one of the returnees, the state public health office said.

“All four people are fully vaccinated. A mutation analysis carried out by the State Health Office has confirmed that all of them are infected with the new variant of concern,” the office said in a statement, adding that all four were in quarantine.

All four showed moderate symptoms.

Japan detects second case of Omicron variant
Japan has found a second person who has tested positive with the Omicron strain, broadcaster FNN reported.

The first case of the variant was discovered on Tuesday.

The country expanded its travel ban covering all foreign inbound travellers – including temporary or permanent residents – from South Africa and nine nearby countries beginning on Thursday.

Nigeria confirms Omicron cases
Nigeria has confirmed two cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant among travellers who arrived in the country last week from South Africa.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) also said retrospective sequencing of previously confirmed cases among passengers to Nigeria had identified the mutation among a sample collected in October. It did not provide further details.

“Given the highly likely increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant, it is imperative to put in place measures to curb community transmission,” the NCDC said in a statement.

Malaysia to ban travellers from countries with Omicron cases
Malaysia will temporarily ban the entry of travellers from countries that have reported cases of the Omicron variant or are considered high-risk, its health ministry has said.

It will also delay plans to set up so-called Vaccinated Travel Lanes with those countries, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said.

UK reports new cases
The United Kingdom has reported eight new cases of the Omicron variant, taking the total number to 13.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said a new COVID-19 lockdown was unlikely despite worries about the new variant.

US panel backs first-of-a-kind COVID-19 pill
A panel of US health advisers narrowly backed a closely watched COVID-19 pill from Merck, setting the stage for a likely authorisation of the first drug that Americans could take at home to treat the coronavirus.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel voted 13-10 that the antiviral drug molnupiravir’s benefits outweigh its risks, including potential birth defects if used during pregnancy.

“I see this as an incredibly difficult decision with many more questions than answers,” said panel chair Dr Lindsey Baden of Harvard Medical School, who voted in favour of the drug. He said the FDA would have to carefully tailor the drug’s use for patients who stand to benefit most.

Molnupiravir has already been authorised for use in the United Kingdom.

California has reported the first U.S. case of the omicron variant [NPR, 1 Dec 2021]

By BILL CHAPPELL

The first case of the omicron variant of COVID-19 has been identified in the U.S., health officials said on Wednesday. The case was detected in a person in California, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"The individual was a traveler who returned from South Africa on November 22," the CDC said in a news release. "The individual, who was fully vaccinated and had mild symptoms that are improving, is self-quarantining and has been since testing positive. All close contacts have been contacted and have tested negative."

The San Francisco health department and California's state health department confirmed the case. In a joint statement, the two agencies said the variant was found thanks to the state's testing and genome sequencing surveillance.

"We must remain vigilant against this variant, but it is not a cause for panic," they said.

The infected person is not believed to have had a booster shot, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the president's chief medical adviser, said as he announced the news at a White House briefing.
"This person did what we hope other people would do" when they arrive on a flight into the U.S., Fauci said. "They got off, and as soon as they became symptomatic, they went and got tested and it was positive."

Fauci added that as far as he's aware, the CDC is not investigating any other potential omicron cases in the U.S.

Omicron cases have been found in countries from Europe to the Middle East since the worrying new strain was first reported in South Africa last week. The U.S. now joins that list, which has grown despite countries' attempts to use travel restrictions to keep the omicron variant outside their borders.

The omicron variant's many mutations led the World Health Organization to say it poses a "very high" risk to global health. While warning that the evidence remains preliminary, the WHO says omicron's mutations "may be associated with immune escape potential and higher transmissibility."

When asked Wednesday if Americans should change any of their habits because of the variant, Fauci replied no, saying the CDC's overall guidance for vaccines and wearing masks has not changed.

'This will end,' Fauci says of the COVID-19 pandemic
The omicron variant's large number of mutations, including 26 to 32 in the protein spike alone, have quickly sparked fears that this version of the coronavirus could make COVID-19 spread more easily, and could be more likely to reinfect people who have already had COVID-19. As a result, omicron has also thrown both financial markets and personal expectations for a loop.

Toward the end of his briefing, Fauci was asked what he sees as the "end game" for the pandemic. He reiterated that the public in the U.S. and elsewhere must get vaccinated and boosted, to give the virus less room to spread and mutate.

"There's no doubt that this will end, I promise you that, this will end," Fauci said.

News of the U.S. omicron case in California comes after both President Biden and Fauci said they believed it was inevitable for the variant to surface in the U.S. They urged Americans to get vaccinated or get a booster shot, and to be vigilant about wearing masks.

"This variant is a cause for concern — not a cause for panic," Biden said.

South African officials raised the alarm about the heavily mutated variant, B.1.1.529, on Nov. 24. Two days later, the WHO classified it as a variant of concern and dubbed it omicron.

One week after the alarm was raised, omicron has been identified in at least 23 countries, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.

The CDC recently updated its guidance on booster shots
On Monday, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky issued an update on the public health agency's advice for who should get a COVID-19 vaccine booster.

"Everyone ages 18 and older should get a booster shot either when they are 6 months after their initial Pfizer or Moderna series or 2 months after their initial J&J vaccine," she said in an statement.

This statement replaces earlier guidance that said people ages 18 and older but younger than 50 may receive a booster and others in certain at-risk categories or 50 and older should get a booster.

Walensky said the emergence of the omicron variant "further emphasizes the importance of vaccination, boosters and prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19."

Researchers are working to learn more about how the omicron variant behaves, particularly whether it's more likely to cause serious illness than other strains.

"It is not yet clear whether Omicron is more transmissible" or if it causes more severe disease, the World Health Organization said on Sunday.

The southern German state has also imposed a lockdown on all districts