Omicron Scare: UK Detects Two Cases Of New COVID Variant, Four More Countries Added To Travel Red List

The UK had on Friday placed South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini on the Red List.

Representative Photo: Getty Images

New Delhi: The United Kingdom on Saturday detected two cases of the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, health secretary Sajid Javid informed as he added four more African countries to Britain’s travel red list.

The patients were detected in Chelmsford and Nottingham, Sajid Javid said.

As per the health secretary, the cases are linked and the two people are self-isolating alongside their households as further tests and contact tracing take place.

He took to Twitter and wrote: “We have been made aware by @UKHSA of two UK cases of the Omicron variant. The two cases are linked and there is a connection with travel to southern Africa. These individuals are self-isolating with their households while further testing and contact tracing is underway”.

In another tweet, it was informed that, as a precaution, additional targeted testing has been rolled out in the affected areas - Nottingham and Chelmsford - along with sequencing of all positive cases. 

This is a fast-moving situation and we are taking decisive steps to protect public health,  Sajid Javid assured.

As a precaution we are rolling out additional targeted testing in the affected areas - Nottingham and Chelmsford - and sequencing all positive cases.

This is a fast-moving situation and we are taking decisive steps to protect public health.

— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) November 27, 2021

Earlier, Omicron, the new variant, was identified in South Africa, Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong, and Israel.

The UK had on Friday placed South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini on the Red List.

In his announcement on Saturday, health secretary Javid informed that Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia are being added to that list.

“We are also adding Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Angola to the travel red list - effective from 4 am Sunday. If you have returned from there in the last 10 days you must isolate and get PCR tests. And if you are eligible for your booster jab - now is the time to get it,” Javid informed.

Omicron COVID Variant Leads To Renewed Travel Restrictions

The new and potentially more contagious B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from South Africa on November 24, and has also been identified in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong, and Israel.

On Friday, it was named Omicron and designated as a Variant of Concern by the WHO. 

A variant of concern is the WHO’s top category of worrying COVID-19 variants.

The variant is reported to have a high number of mutations, about 50 overall. Importantly, as South African genomic scientists informed on Thursday, more than 30 of the mutations were found in the spike protein -- the structure the virus uses to get into the cells they attack.

The new variant becoming a cause of alarm has led to countries around the world introducing travel bans and restrictions on southern African countries in an effort to contain Omicron’s spread.

The United States has from Monday restricted travel from South Africa and seven other countries in the southern Africa region.

European countries along with the UK have banned travel to and from South Africa and neighbouring countries of Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana, as well as Lesotho and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), both of which are landlocked within South Africa.

Other countries include Mauritius, Israel, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands.

Many other countries have indicated that only their own citizens would be allowed back, subject to a quarantine period.

Meanwhile, the Indian government has asked all states and union territories to conduct rigorous screening and testing of all international travellers coming from or transiting through South Africa, Hong Kong, and Botswana.

(With Agency Inputs)