A new variant identified in South Africa, similar to Delta and Beta but with new mutations. Israel, Germany, Italy (stop entry for 14 days) and the United Kingdom have already taken action by banning travel from 6 Southern African countries starting at 12 today: South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Botswana. As far as the European Union is concerned, the measure is being evaluated. “The European Commission will propose, in close coordination with Member States, to stop flights from the Southern African region due to variant B.1.1.529,” European Commission President Ursula von del Leyen announced on Twitter. The entry restrictions were contested by the South African Foreign Ministry which defined them as “hasty”.
According to Maria van Kerkhove, WHO expert, “not much is known about the variant and it will take weeks to understand” but there is concern about “the high number of mutations”, since this feature “can have an impact. on the development of the virus “. The researcher specified that this variant, as well as the previous ones, will shortly be given a name with a Greek letter.
The professor Tulio D’Oliveira, head of the South African team of scientists, said the only good thing about this variant is that it can be detected in molecular swab tests.
First case of South African variant in Israel
The first case of the new South African variant in the country registered. As reported by Jerusalem Post, a man who returned to Israel from Malawi was infected. There are two other cases under observation, which could be traced back to the new variant B.1.1.529: they were genetically sequenced and now the health authorities are awaiting the results. All three travelers were vaccinated. The authorities, starting today, have denied entry to travelers from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini, after the appearance of the new variant B.1.1529 in that region.
Covid, that’s why Israel fears a fifth wave and hypothesizes the fourth dose of the vaccine
by Sharon Nizza
Contagion in Shanghai, Beijing cancels 500 flights
China has canceled hundreds of flights, closed schools and suspended tourism activities after some cases of Covid-19 were discovered in Shanghai. A few months after the Beijing Winter Olympics, the country wants to limit the risks of contamination at all costs, drastically limiting the entrances and contacts, with mandatory quarantines, confinements and massive screening. Trips are strictly monitored via the app. Three friends, who had traveled together last week to Shanghai, tested positive, local authorities said: all were already vaccinated. More than 500 flights from Shanghai’s two airports were therefore canceled, all travel by tourist groups to the nearby city of Suzhou, where the three infected had gone, was suspended, tourist sites closed, a university campus quarantined in Hangzhou after a contact case. China reported 13 new cases yesterday.
Germany, infections out of control
Cases peak in Germany and surge among politicians because the current majority approved the new pandemic emergency law which excludes general lockdowns. Berlin will also now ban most travel from southern Africa. This was announced by the German health minister, Jens Spahn. The new rules, which come into effect this evening, will affect South Africa and “probably neighboring nations”, Spahn said, with entry allowed only to German citizens, who, however, will have to observe a 14-day quarantine upon arrival even if vaccinated.
Coronavirus, Merkel: “Very serious situation in Germany, we must not overload the hospitals”
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