Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, said there is no data yet to suggest that a new variant of the Omicron CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus causes more serious illnesses than previous variants.
“I think so [Omicron is] It’s more contagious when you look at how rapidly it’s spreading to multiple districts in South Africa, “said Collins, who funded NIH to conduct virus function acquisition research by China’s High Security Institute. I have previously suggested that I may have received it. Sunday’s State of the Union address.
The United States will impose travel bans on eight South African countries starting November 29, but the European Union, Israel, the United Kingdom, and many other countries are doing the same due to the spread of the discovered variants. increase. In South Africa and Botswana.
A top doctor from the South African Medical Association helped warn authorities about a new variant of the CCP virus and told the media that Omicron has unusual but mild symptoms.
“Their symptoms were very mild, very different from what I had previously treated,” said Dr. Angelique Kotze. Said Telegraph.
“It represents a mild illness with symptoms such as muscle aches and one or two days of fatigue,” Coetzee explained. “So far, we have found that infected people do not suffer from loss of taste or smell. They may have a slight cough. There are no noticeable symptoms. Some infected people are currently treated at home. Some people are receiving it. “
Meanwhile, World Health Organization (WHO) officials criticized a global travel ban in southern Africa over the newly discovered Omicron COVID-19 mutant on Sunday.
Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s Director of Africa, has called on countries to implement the International Health Regulations to avoid the use of travel bans.
“Travel restrictions may help reduce the spread of COVID-19 slightly, but they also put a heavy burden on life and livelihoods,” Moeti said in a statement. “When restrictions are enforced, they must not be unnecessarily invasive or invasive, and science in accordance with the International Health Regulations, a legally binding means of international law recognized in more than 190 countries. Must be based on. “
Earlier this weekend, WHO was asked why they skipped the name of the new variant “Xi” after the Greek alphabet and chose the name Omicron instead. Critics speculated that the UN health agency, previously accused of colluding with the Chinese Communist Party, tried to appease the Chinese Communist Party and its leader, Xi Jinping.
However, Moeti said South Africa and Botswana acted swiftly in finding new variants. WHO said on Friday that there were many mutations and could be more infectious. It is not clear whether Omicron can lead to more serious illnesses or violate vaccines and innate immunity.
“The speed and transparency of the South African and Botswana governments in informing the world of new variants should be commended,” Moeti said. “WHO boldly shares life-saving public health information and works with African countries that have the courage to protect the world from the COVID-19 epidemic.”
Former U.S. Commissioner of Food and Drugs Scott Gottlieb, now on Pfizer’s board, said vaccine developers have “quite confidence” that vaccinated people who have been boosted can deal with Omicron. Insisted that.
Talking to people in the vaccine world, those working on vaccines, they are quite convinced that a booster immune vaccine, a three-time complete dose of vaccine, will be significantly protected against this new variant. I have. Gottlieb told CBS News on Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Jack Phillips is the latest news reporter for The Epoch Times, based in New York.