Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom detect altered cases of Ômicron and spark global fear

Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom on Saturday revealed cases of the new micron variant of COVID-19, a day after the virus broke out. The first case in Europe was recorded in Belgium. The variant was first discovered in South Africa and has also been discovered in Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel, which on Saturday became the first country to do so. Ban on entry to all foreigners to try to contain the spread of the new variant.

Read more: Q&A: What is already known about the micron variable

In addition to The Netherlands claims to have detected 61 cases of Covid-19 In about 600 passengers landed in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa on Friday. It is suspected that some of these infections are caused by the new variant. Denmark said it had two suspected cases of people arriving from South Africa, while the Czech Republic is investigating a passenger who disembarked from Namibia.

The assertions and suspicions came a day after the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) said the risk of the new species spreading across Europe was “extremely high”. The alternative has emerged as many countries on the continent are already struggling to contain the rise in Covid-19 infections, with some reimposing restrictions on social activities to stem the spread of the disease.

Germany: Unvaccinated people are responsible for the new explosion of Covid-19 cases in the country

The discovery of Ômicron sparked global alert, with a series of barriers or travel restrictions related to South Africa and fears that the new strain could derail a global economic recovery nearly two years into the pandemic.

British Health Minister Sajid Javid has announced that the two cases found in the UK are linked to a trip to South Africa. Shortly thereafter, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new measures to try to contain the spread of the new strain, including testing everyone who arrives in the country and escalating booster doses of the vaccine.

“We will require anyone entering the UK to take a PCR test at the end of the second day after arrival and to remain isolated until they receive a negative result,” Boris said during a press conference.

In Germany , Two cases have been reported in Bavaria, in the south of the country, the provincial health ministry announced. The two infected entered the country via Munich airport on November 24 and are now in isolation. In Italy, the National Institute of Health said the infected person was discovered in Milan after returning from a trip to Mozambique.

Countries with confirmed cases:

• South Africa: 77 cases in Gauteng province;

• Germany: two cases were recorded in Munich, Bavaria;

• Belgium: a non-vaccinated person who returned from Egypt on November 11 and developed the first symptoms on November 22;

• Botswana: four people fully vaccinated;

• Hong Kong: case of a person who traveled to South Africa;

• Italy: a person who returned from a trip to Mozambique;

• Israel: a person who has returned from Malawi;

• UK: Two cases have been identified, one in Chelmsford and one in Nottingham.

Worry

Ômicron, which the World Health Organization has described as a “variant of concern”, is likely to be more contagious than the previous four strains with more harmful effects on the body, although experts have not yet determined whether it will cause Covid-19 more or less severe. .

Read also: Anvisa recommends closing air borders with more countries with a new type of coronavirus

According to geneticist Salmo Raskin, director of the Gentica laboratory, in Curitiba, the micron is the variant in which most of the mutations have accumulated.

“It has a mixture of mutations found in the other four strains of concern and still has a number of new ones. This is the main point that caught her attention. Although there is evidence that it can be more transmissible and escape the defenses of the immune system, it does not. It is still too quick to make any statement about it – the expert explained to GLOBO.

South Africa ‘punished’

Since Friday, several countries around the world, including the United States, Brazil, Canada and European Union countries have announced travel restrictions or bans with respect to the South African continent. Yesterday, the South African government lamented closing the borders to its citizens and travelers, saying the fact that the country had discovered the new alternative ended up being “punished”.

“This travel ban is punishing South Africa for its advanced ability to sequence genomes and discover new variants more quickly. Scientific excellence should be commended, not punished,” the government said in a statement.

The government stressed that the World Health Organization was not recommending similar measures and called for a “scientific, risk-based approach”. According to South Africa’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country is concerned that the restrictions will harm tourism and other sectors of the economy.

The new figure also reveals the disparity in vaccination rates around the world. While many developed countries provide booster doses, less than 7% of the population in low-income countries has received the first shot, according to medical and rights groups.