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According to travel agencies, travelers around the world are considering pressing a pause button for vacation plans as a new CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus Omicron variant is discovered.
A new variant of the new coronavirus has been discovered in South Africa. South African Health Minister Joe Fara announced last Thursday.
Given that Omicron has an unusual combination of mutations that may evade an immune response or make it more contagious, there are concerns among scientists about what the effects of Omicron will be. Is increasing.
In response, dozens of countries, including the European Union and Australia, Brazil, Canada, Iran, Japan, Thailand and the United States, have newly discovered COVID-19 variants.
Israel announced on Saturday a new plan to ban all foreigners domestically for the world’s first 14 days in response to Omicron.
A spokesperson for the Flight Center Travel Group told Reuters that some Australian travelers booked through the company after announcing new arrival requirements for 72-hour isolation at home or at a hotel while waiting for COVID results. Said to cancel or postpone the trip. 19 tests.
“We’re not in a hurry to step off,” a spokesman said about the number of changes to travel. “It’s still a very early day and people are generally ready to wait and see what happens.”
Currently, the Australian border remains closed to tourists from all countries except those who are fully vaccinated from New Zealand and Singapore.
While countries around the world are closing borders and tightening restrictions in response to new variants, South Korean officials said Monday that they would “strengthen entry monitoring and prepare a faster system for testing variants. “We will do it,” but now, “We are currently planning to close the border until arrival.”
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) criticized the “heavy burden” of travel bans on countries in southern Africa on Sunday, unless there is “scientific basis” in concerns about new variants around the world. He urged countries not to impose travel bans.
In a statement, public health agencies called on countries to “follow science and international health regulations” rather than rushing a flight ban that could have a dramatic impact on the lives of people in southern Africa.
“Travel restrictions may help reduce the spread of COVID-19 slightly, but they also put a heavy burden on life and livelihoods,” the organization said. “If restrictions are enforced, they must not be unnecessarily invasive or invasive in accordance with the International Health Regulations, a legally binding means of international law recognized in more than 190 countries. , Must be based on science. “
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Katabella Roberts is a reporter currently based in Turkey. She focuses primarily on the United States and covers the news and business of The Epoch Times.
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