Omicron: PCR tests for arrivals to UK, mask rules tightened, and self-isolation reintroduced after variant found in UK November 27, 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a list of new Covid precautionary measures, including restrictions for those arriving in the UK, stricter rules on wearing masks in public places, and a “boost for the booster programme” for vaccination. In a reunion that Brits won’t have been hoping for, Johnson held a Downing Street press conference [...]
Health secretary: Two cases of new Omicron Covid variant detected in UK November 27, 2021 Two cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant have been detected in the UK, the health secretary Sajid Javid has announced. Targeted testing will now be rolled out in the areas where the cases were detected – Nottingham and Chelmsford, Javid said. “We have been made aware by the UK Health Security Agency of two [...]
Omicron: Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna race to tweak Covid vaccines against new Coronavirus variant November 27, 2021 Work is underway to look at tweaking vaccines against the new concerning strain of coronavirus that has sparked travel bans. The variant, named Omicron and designated a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organisation (WHO), has reached Belgium after being discovered in South Africa. The WHO warned that preliminary evidence suggests the variant has [...]
Omicron: Aggressive new Coronavirus variant triggers worldwide travel bans as Covid fears grow November 27, 2021 Dozens of nations raced to halt air travel, while markets fell sharply and scientists held emergency meetings to weigh the exact risks as the discovery of a new Coronavirus variant has sent a chill through much of the world. A World Health Organisation (WHO) panel named the variant Omicron and classified it as a highly [...]
New Covid variant Omicron sparks global concerns as borders close November 26, 2021 The World Health Organisation has dubbed the B.1.1.529 variant of Covid 'Omicron' and designated the strain "of concern."
Aggressive new Covid mutation lands in Europe as Belgium confirms first case of African Coronavirus variant November 26, 2021 Belgium became the first European Union country to announce a case of the variant B.1.1.529, which has been identified in other places including South Africa, Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel. Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said: “We have one case of this variant that is confirmed. It’s someone who came from abroad.” Marc Van Ranst, [...]
Hyper-aggressive Covid mutation from Southern Africa spreads like wildfire across globe: ‘Worst Coronavirus variant so far’ November 26, 2021 UK and WHO officials have sounded the alarm late last night over a new Covid variant in parts of Southern Africa as B.1.1.529 has the potential to evade immunity built up by vaccination or prior infection. A travel ban is to be imposed on six African nations due to rising concerns over the new variant [...]
New Covid variant ‘worst one yet’ as South Africa travel ban to be imposed this week November 25, 2021 Travel restrictions with South Africa are to be introduced from Friday as UK experts have dubbed a new Covid variant the worst one so far. The UK Health Security Agency said that the variant – named B.1.1.529 – has a spike protein dramatically different to the one in the original coronavirus that Covid vaccines are [...]
Total number of Covid cases surpasses 10m as restrictions return to Europe November 25, 2021 UK surpasses 10m total Covid cases as one-third of care home residents haven’t had booster jab The total number of Covid cases in the UK has now hit 10m while many care home residents are yet to receive their third vaccine. Total cases since the start of the pandemic stand at 10,021,497, according to the [...]
New ‘really awful’ variant of Covid identified in Botswana November 25, 2021 A new variant of the Coronvairus has reportedly been identified in Botswana sporting an array of mutations which could be vaccine resistant.