[Epoch Times November 30, 2021](Epoch Times reporter Li Yun comprehensive report) The new variant strain of the Chinese Communist Party virus (COVID-19), Omicron, is coming violently, causing global panic.
On November 29, the health ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries convened an emergency video conference calling for “urgent action” against the “high spread” of the Omicron virus.
Among the G7 countries, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy and Japan have all found confirmed cases of Omicron. There are currently no reports of cases in France and the United States.
Omicron infection cases in multiple countries
Japan discovered the first case of Omicron variant virus infection on November 30. Kyodo News reported that a Japanese government official revealed that a man in his thirties entered Japan from Namibia on the evening of the 28th and was confirmed to be infected with the Omicron variant virus.
The Japanese government announced that from the 30th, all foreigners, including business travelers, international students, and technical intern trainees, will be prohibited from entering Japan.
On two flights from South Africa to the Dutch capital, 13 people were detected with the Omicron variant virus. Spain also reported a case. Five variant cases have been detected in Australia.
The United Kingdom notified 2 cases of Omicron infection on the 27th; on the same day, the Italian National Institute of Health also announced that 1 confirmed case of Omicron had been found in Milan; the Ministry of Health of Bavaria, Germany announced that there were 2 confirmed cases of Omicron locally.
According to Yonhap News Agency, on November 30, the two confirmed patients notified by South Korea entered the country from the Netherlands and Germany respectively. It is currently analyzing whether the virus strain is Omicron.
Omicron has a “very high risk of infection”
The World Health Organization warned on November 29 that Omicron has a “very high risk of infection” in the global spread and infection; the consequences will be serious in some areas.
The WHO also acknowledged that Omicron still has many unknowns, including the level of protection given by the existing vaccine and the severity of the symptoms it causes.
South Africa announces that Omicron has been banned from flying
South Africa announced the detection of a new mutant strain Omicron on November 25.
The spread of the new variant virus may exceed Delta and Lambda, causing global panic.
A few hours after South Africa’s announcement, the United Kingdom announced that it would temporarily ban flights from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and other countries from entering the country on the 26th, and require British citizens returning to the United Kingdom from these countries to be quarantined.
Subsequently, more than 20 countries including Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, the United States, Russia, and the European Union imposed restrictions on flights from southern Africa.
Israel announced on the 27th that it would close its borders and ban all foreign travelers from entering the country, becoming the first country in the world to close the country due to the Omicron variant virus.
Many countries ban flying large numbers of tourists stranded in South African airport
Due to the announcement of emergency travel restrictions by various countries, many tourists are stranded in Africa.
The terminal of Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, is crowded with tourists from all over the world. Many tourists can only line up at the airport because they cannot book tickets online, hoping to grab a ticket to return home.
British passenger Ronald Magwala, who was queuing at the Johannesburg airport, told NTD reporters, “It’s too bad, I just came here for a little vacation, and it turned into a nightmare.”
American tourist Cindy McKinney said that they originally had a connecting flight in Amsterdam, but later the Dutch flight was suspended. He and his friends could not take the United Airlines direct flight back to the United States. “We are here to see if we can catch the connecting plane and go back. A direct flight will have to wait until at least December 8.”
Editor in charge: Lin Congwen#
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