U.S. introduces new COVID-19 travel rules to suppress Omicron threat

Air passengers in the United States will reportedly be subject to extensive COVID-19 testing rules as several nations are sealing off their borders fearing the virulence of the Omicron variant and its ability to evade existing vaccines.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States will now require all air travelers to furnish a negative COVID-19 test which has been taken within one day of departure.

In Asia-Pacific, Hong Kong and Japan are planning to expand travel restrictions, while Australia is preparing to battle the spread of Omicron cases after at least two potentially infectious people visited several locations in its largest city.

In an attempt to prevent unnecessary global border restrictions, the WHO has urged countries to use a risk-based and evidence-informed approach before imposing any conditions for travel. It further stressed that blanket travel bans are not likely to be an effective solution for the new COVID-19 wave and that it would heavily impact several lives and livelihoods.

Notably, over 50 countries are reportedly imposing travel measures to potentially delay the onset of a new COVID-19 Omicron wave as of November 28th.

Meanwhile, financial markets remained unsteady even as they overcame the lows following remarks made by Moderna CEO, which raised questions about the effectiveness of vaccines against Omicron.

Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency, Emer Cooke was quoted saying that even if the new variant becomes widespread, the vaccines will safeguard against the disease.

Echoing the statements given by vaccine maker BioNTech, Cooke claimed that lab analyses conducted over the next two weeks should reveal whether the blood of vaccinated persons has sufficient antibodies to render the new variant ineffective.

The Omicron COVID-19 variant, which was first reported in South Africa one week ago, has triggered global alarm, caused travel bans, and highlighted the contrast between massive vaccination drives in developed nations and low inoculation rates in the emerging world.

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