Suspected Omicron Cases Spread Across Europe: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) --

U.S. President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, Anthony Fauci, said Covid-19’s omicron variant may already be in the country. The variant is spreading through Europe, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposing new measures after the U.K. reported two infections connected with travel to parts of Africa.

Countries across Europe and the Middle East are investigating suspected cases of the new variant first announced in South Africa. The Netherlands is researching more than 60 new Covid infections, and Israel reported three omicron cases from people who hadn’t been abroad.

The reports come as governments from the U.S. to Australia tighten restrictions on travel to southern Africa. The U.S. upgraded its travel advisories to warnings, and the U.K. is adding four more nations to its “red list.” In the aftermath, South Africa may announce more stringent lockdown measures to curb the variant’s spread.

Key Developments:

• Virus Tracker: Cases approach 261 million; deaths pass 5.19 million
• Vaccine Tracker: More than 7.86 billion doses given
• Omicron: Keep Calm and Carry on Vaccinating: Therese Raphael
• What we know about the new virus variant that’s rocking markets
• The winners and losers from a year of ranking Covid resilience

Israel Has Omicron Cases From Non-Travelers (2:30 p.m. NY)

Israel has three new suspected cases of the omicron variant from people who didn’t travel abroad recently, according to the country’s health ministry. Another four people were suspected but they returned from abroad.

Of the seven in total, three were classified as vaccinated. Israel already has a confirmed case from someone who recently traveled from Malawi.

Middle East Begins Shutting Down to Africa (1:45 p.m. NY)

Following the U.S. and Europe’s lead, Middle Eastern countries started to cancel flights from southern African countries. Major Arab airlines, including Qatar Airways and Egyptair also stopped accepting passengers flying from impacted countries.

Italy Reports First Suspected Omicron Case (1:26 p.m. NY)

Italy’s National Health Institute said it identified a possible case of the omicron variant from a patient from Mozambique who had the coronavirus. 

The subject and his family who reside in the Campania region of Italy, are in “good health condition,” according to a statement.

U.K. Tightens Measures After Omicron Cases (12:15 p.m. NY)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said all close contacts of any positive omicron case must self-isolate for 10 days regardless of their vaccine status, and ordered masks to be worn in stores, certain indoor settings and on public transport.

The measures, which exclude hospitality venues, will be reviewed in three weeks, Johnson said at a press briefing.

“We don’t know how effective our vaccines will be” against the new variant, he said. “But we have good reasons to believe they will provide at least some measure of protection.”

Fauci Not Surprised If Variant in U.S. Already (11:37 a.m. NY)

Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, said Covid-19’s omicron variant may already be in the U.S.

“I would not be surprised if it is,” Fauci said on NBC’s “Weekend Today” Saturday. “We have not detected yet,” but when a virus shows “this degree of transmissibility” it “almost invariably, ultimately, is going to go essentially all over,” he said.

While it’s “conceivable” the latest variant may diminish vaccine protection against Covid-19, existing vaccinations may be able to contain it, Fauci said.

British Airways Suspends Hong Kong Flights (10:57 a.m. NY)

British Airways will temporarily suspend passenger flights to and from Hong Kong starting Sunday due to staff shortages after at least one employee tested positive for Covid, the South China Morning Post reported.

IAG SA’s flagship British airline took the decision after most of the staff on a flight that arrived Saturday were taken to a quarantine center on Lantau Island, according to two people that the SCMP didn’t identify. Flights are scheduled to resume Dec. 4, according to availability on the airline’s website.

U.S. Warns Against Travel to African Nations (10:48 a.m. NY)

The State Department is warning Americans not to travel to eight African nations as the new coronavirus variant spreads. Advisories concerning South Africa and seven other countries were upgraded Saturday to Level 4 -- the highest possible.

President Joe Biden’s administration will restrict travel to and from the countries starting Monday as a “precautionary measure,” he said in a statement. The policy doesn’t apply to citizens and lawful permanent residents, though they must still test negative prior to travel to the U.S.

The red alerts also apply to Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi.

South Africa Considers Limits to Curb Variant (10:01 a.m. NY)

South Africa may announce more stringent lockdown measures in coming days to curb a resurgence of coronavirus infections and the spread of a new variant, people familiar with the matter said. 

The National Coronavirus Command Council met Saturday to discuss possible measures, while weighing the impact any moves will have on the economy, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks aren’t public. Among the options being considered are ways to try and boost the nation’s vaccination rate, they said. 

U.K. Finds Two Cases, Expands ‘Red List’ (9:52 a.m. NY)

The U.K has confirmed two cases of the new Covid-19 strain omicron. “The two cases are linked and there is a connection with travel to southern Africa,” Health Minister Sajid Javid said on Twitter. 

The individuals and their households -- one in Chelmsford and one in Nottingham -- are self-isolating and contact tracing is ongoing, according to the U.K. Health Security Agency.

The U.K. also added four African countries to its travel “red list” effective early Sunday. Slovenia and South Korea also announced travel restrictions for the region.

London Rugby Match Scrapped on Covid Cases (8:10 a.m. NY)

English rugby’s ruling body called off a men’s match between the Barbarians and Samoa, due to be held Saturday at Twickenham stadium outside London, because of six confirmed Covid cases among the Barbarians team.

Four players and two of the staff have contracted the virus, according to a statement from the Rugby Football Union.

German Scientists Urge Immediate Restrictions (8:03 a.m. NY)

The German National Academy of Science Leopoldina is urging the government to implement stringent contact restrictions immediately for a few weeks to combat the pandemic and address the Omicron variant.

These bans must also cover vaccinated people and those who recovered from an infection. The government also must make vaccination mandatory over the coming months, the academy said in a statement on its website.

U.K. Plan to Clear NHS Backlog Will Miss Target (7:31 a.m. NY)

A proposal to clear the record backlog of National Health Service waiting lists fueled by the coronavirus pandemic is expected to fall short of detailed targets, according to the Financial Times.

Health leaders have resisted publicly stating yearly goals until 2025 -- the date set by U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson to treat about 30% more elective patients -- due to the uncertain outlook, the paper reports, citing two people familiar with the development of the plan. The proposal is set to be published within days.

Goldman to Offer Asia-Pacific Staff $5,000 (6:48 a.m. NY)

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is rolling out a reimbursement plan to help compensate employees in the Asia-Pacific region for costs incurred from hotel quarantine stays as Hong Kong’s strict Covid-Zero strategy makes it harder for global banks to retain top talent there.

Goldman staff will be able to claim a one-time subsidy of as much as $5,000 to cover costs from a mandatory quarantine stay effective Dec. 1, according to a memo seen by Bloomberg. A stay at Hong Kong’s designated quarantine hotel can cost HK$500 ($64) to HK$3,630 a night for a non-suite room.

French Make 3 Million Appointments for Shots (6:30 a.m. NY)

French Health Minister Olivier Veran said 3 million appointments have been made for Covid booster shots since he announced they would be made available to all adults.

France is opening up boosters to all those age 18 and above starting Saturday, with 19 million people now eligible for an additional shot. About 6.3 million people already have had a booster.

Most Austrians Back Mandatory Vaccinations (6:05 a.m. NY)

A majority of Austrians support government plans to make vaccinations against the coronavirus mandatory. The country’s vaccination rate is one of the lowest in western Europe.

A combined 60% of respondents saw the government’s recent step as “absolutely right” or “rather right” in a survey conducted by the Unique Research institute for the Profil magazine. That compares with 36% who saw the policy as absolutely or rather wrong.

Highly Probable Omicron Is in Germany (6:21 p.m. HK)

It’s “very likely” the new coronavirus strain, omicron, has arrived in Germany, a state official said Saturday.

A traveler returning from South Africa on Friday night showed several symptoms typical of the new variant, Kai Klose, minister of social affairs in the German state of Hesse, said on Twitter without providing more detail. 

While the virus sample hasn’t been sequenced, there’s a “high level of suspicion” that the person has the new strain, Klose said. The traveler has been isolated at home. 

Modi Wants to Review Easing of Travel Rules (6:02 p.m. HK)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Indian officials to review plans for the easing of international travel restrictions after the emergence of the new omicron variant. India needs to be “proactive in light of the new variant,” Modi said during a meeting on the Covid-19 situation and the pace of vaccinations in the country.

On Friday, the Press Trust of India cited the civil aviation ministry as saying scheduled international flights to and from India will resume starting Dec. 15.

Dutch: 61 Flyers From S. Africa Test Positive (5:49 p.m. HK)

Sixty-one people arriving in the Netherlands on separate flights from South Africa tested positive for the coronavirus and were in isolation Saturday, the AP reported. Further tests are underway to determine if any of those who arrived at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport are infected with the new omicron variant.

The planes arrived in the Netherlands on Friday shortly after the Dutch government imposed a ban on flights from some southern African nations following discovery of the new variant.

New Zealand, Australia Tighten Borders (4:17 p.m. HK)

New Zealand joined Australia in banning entry to travelers from nine African countries in an effort to protect against the new omicron variant. The restrictions start Sunday night but don’t apply to returning citizens, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said. New Zealanders returning from those nations are required to undergo testing and a 14-day managed isolation period, he said.

Earlier, Australia said direct flights from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, the Seychelles, Malawi and Mozambique were being suspended, Health Minister Greg Hunt said. Returning citizens and their dependents who have been in any of those countries in the past 14 days must enter supervised quarantine on arrival.

Hong Kong Needs 80% Jab Rate to Open (3:58 p.m. HK)

Hong Kong will have to achieve a vaccination rate of at least 80% before it will consider reopening its borders to mainland China and the international community, The Standard reported, citing a top government official.

About 70% of the population has received at least one shot, the paper cited Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip as saying. The report didn’t specify if the reopening criteria are for a fully- or partially-vaccinated population.

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With assistance from Bloomberg