Ten cases of the variant have been reported in five states so far - half of which are in New York. Others affected are California, Minnesota, Colorado, and Hawaii, where an unvaccinated resident with no recent travel history tested positive earlier this week.
An unsurprised Dr. Anthony Fauci said “we knew it was just a matter of time” before the strain was detected in the country after it spread to several countries in a matter of days. Unveiling his winter plan to tackle the virus yesterday, President Joe Biden said the White House will expand efforts to get booster shots in arms, offer free at-home tests, reevaluate school COVID protocols, and strengthen requirements for international travelers entering the U.S.
Research is ongoing into how infectious Omicron is and its potential to evade current vaccines, with early signs showing booster shots help prevent the most serious disease.
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The end of her time in power comes as the country grapples with a major COVID wave - and the new Omicron variant - threatening to overwhelm hospitals.
Germany, just like many other countries, is also combating anti-vaxxers who are discouraging people from getting their shots.
The figure, calculated by Newsweek based on figures from the World Population Review, does not include countries such as the U.S., which have introduced compulsory vaccination for only some workers and public officials but not for the rest of the population.
Austria last month became the first Western democracy and E.U. member state to announce restrictions, saying vaccination would be compulsory from February 1.
FULL STORY: COVID Vaccine Compulsory for More Than 200 Million People Worldwide
Governor Kevin Stitt argued that the Biden administration’s defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, overstepped his constitutional authority by subjecting the National Guard to the mandate, which applies to active-duty military members.
This week, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin declared his intention to proceed with unconstitutional punishment that individually targets Oklahoma National Guard soldiers and airmen, including withholding their pay.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla said he aims not to have to introduce lockdown-style restrictions if people do “basic duties of the safety measures” in the current spike.
The ads are being placed by merchandise companies which are regular clients of the social media giant, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on Facebook over the last few years.
One ad spotted by the news organization compared the rollout of vaccines to the Holocaust, while another promoted a sweater with the words “I’m originally from America but I currently reside in 1941 Germany” on the front.
A spokesperson for Meta said the ads went against Facebook’s vaccine misinformation policies, raising questions about why they were allowed to begin with.
Geneva health authorities said in a statement that confirmed all campus students and staff will be quarantined for ten days.
Appearing before Norwich Magistrate’s Court earlier this week, he pleaded guilty to the charge of criminal damage and admitted causing a public nuisance.
Much like the U.S., the U.K. has a large number of anti-vaxxers who have tried to disrupt the vaccination effort in recent months.
FULL STORY: Man Who Glued Shut COVID Vaccine Center, Stopping Hundreds of Shots, Jailed
France reported its first offshore Omicron case on Sunday and the first mainland case on Wednesday – a man who returned from a trip to Nigeria in November.
It is not yet clear how the infection got into the country despite a ban on non-citizens entering.
Health officials in New South Wales confirmed further investigations and contact tracing are underway.
The student - at a university in Perak state - is fully vaccinated and asymptomatic, Dimishtra Sittampalam, an adviser to the health minister, tweeted. He confirmed the case was “contained” as the student has quarantined in line with isolation rules in the country.
The infected person had no recent travel history, prompting concerns that infectious people who have yet to be tested are spreading the variant in the state.
New York - 5 cases California - 2 cases Hawaii - 1 case Minnesota - 1 case Colorado - 1 case
West Virginia, Idaho, Wyoming, Alabama, and Mississippi have all seen their average daily cases fall over the last two weeks. The states, which all have less than half the population fully vaccinated, have seen their daily average of new cases fall by between 7 and 48 percent over the last 14 days.
Dr. Ellie Murray, assistant professor in epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health, told Newsweek that “it’s not surprising for surges to come and go” and that vaccinated have helped by “decreasing the number of hospitalizations” in the states in recent weeks.
FULL STORY: COVID Cases Are Falling in the Five Least Vaccinated States
Follow Newsweek’s liveblog throughout Friday for all the latest.
The White House reported 2.2 million more Covid-19 doses were administered today. They also stated it was the highest single day total in nearly 7 months. This comes as new Covid-19 variant Omicron cases were identified in two states Thursday.
White House officials also urged unvaccinated people to get vaccinated and boosted.
The mandate is expected to include roughly 930 schools and 56,000 employees, city officials said. They will have to show proof that they received the first dose of a vaccine by December 20.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also said in the statement, “We’re doing everything in our power to protect our students and school staff, and a mandate for nonpublic school employees will help keep our school communities and youngest New Yorkers safe.”
According to the Associated Press, The Delta variant is responsible for nearly every current case in the U.S., causing overcrowding that increases patient wait times in many hospitals.
Dr. Nirav Shah, director of state center for Disease Control and Prevention in Maine said, “Omicron is a spark that’s on the horizon. Delta variant is the fire that’s here today.”
This move comes as German officials inch closer to a national COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
“The situation in our country is serious,” Merkel said during the press conference.
Around 68.7 percent of Germany’s population of 83.2 million people are fully vaccinated.
Current finance minister Olaf Scholz, who will replace Merkle as chancellor, expressed his support for a vaccine mandate.
“If we had a higher vaccination rate,” he said, “we wouldn’t be discussing this now.”
FULL STORY: Germany Bans Unvaccinated From Nonessential Stores, Could Enact National Mandate
The patient is an adult female who recently traveled to multiple countries in southern Africa for tourism, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) confirmed in a news release Thursday.
She is fully vaccinated but did not yet receive a booster shot, state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said during a press briefing. The patient is experiencing minor symptoms and isolating in her home.
Dr. Herlihy said the woman was not symptomatic when she returned to Colorado and began experiencing symptoms around the time she was tested.
Tri-County Health Department conducted a contact tracing investigation among people who recently traveled. This women’s test results were flagged for genetic sequencing and confirmed the infection was the Omicron variant, CDPHE said.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis said he is “not terribly alarmed” at this point, adding that there is currently no evidence of widespread community transmission.
Mayor de Blasio also stated, “We are aware of a case of the Omicron variant identified in Minnesota that is associated with travel to a conference in New York City, and we should assume there is community spread of the variant in our city.”
“We are working closely with the State and the CDC, as well as the Javits Center’s event organizers, and our Test and Trace Corps will be contracting conference attendees. This conference required masks and complied with our Key2NYC requirement to mandate vaccination.”
He also said,“anyone who attended the AnimeNYC conference, especially anyone experiencing symptoms, should get tested immediately and take additional precautions, including social distancing.”
Biden will also strengthen travel protocols.
Inbound international travelers must test one day from departure to the U.S., regardless of vaccination status.
Mask requirements on public transportation, including airplanes and trains, have also been extended until March 18, 2022.
“Travel restrictions can slow the spread of omicron but it can’t prevent it,” Biden said.
Getting children vaccinated will allow schools to remain open as new variants emerge and spread. The administration will also review school COVID-19 prevention policies to avoid closures when there is a positive case.
He is also launching family vaccination clinics to get more people vaccinated.
The Biden administration will offer free at-home tests for all Americans to control the spread of COVID-19 in the hardest-hit and highest-risk communities.
Private health insurers will now cover the costs of these at-home tests. There are a total of eight test options on the market now and Biden said the prices are coming down.
Biden ensured that by winter, “you will be able to test for free at home with peace of mind.”
“We’re going to fight this variant with science and speed, not chaos and confusion,” he said.
His first point of action is to expand booster shots.
Biden has called on pharmacies to offer more appointments and walk-in times, and send texts to remind people to return for boosters. He will coordinate with AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) and Medicare to get booster shots in arms.
The Biden administration will also offer paid time off for federal employees to get boosters.
“No one should choose between a paycheck and getting an extra booster shot,” he said.
Kristian Andersen theorized that the newest COVID-19 variant could be “zoonotic,” meaning it circulated in animal hosts before jumping to humans.
“I don’t think we should dismiss that possibility, because I think it’s definitely on the table,” he told Stat, adding that this theory “seems more likely” to him than the persistent human infection theory.
Paul Digard, chair of virology at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute, told Newsweek that the Omicron animal pathway theory is “certainly possible” but said there is insufficient evidence to be sure at the moment.
“We have some very good surveillance systems for SARS-CoV-2 but unfortunately they don’t provide universal coverage across the globe, so there will be places where we just don’t know what’s happening,” he said.
FULL STORY: Omicron Variant May Have Spread From Animal to Human, Scientists Suggest
“We have a window of opportunity but must act quickly and ramp up detection and prevention measures,” Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said in a statement.
She said countries need to adjust their COVID-19 response to stop the surge in cases across Africa that is “possibly overwhelming already-stretched health facilities.”
COVID-19 cases in Africa increased by 54 percent after the recent surge in the southern region of the continent, WHO Africa reported.
South Africa and Botswana account for 62 percent of the global Omicron cases that have now reached more than 20 countries worldwide.
This plan will include boosters for all adults, vaccinations to protect kids and keep schools open, expanding free at-home testing for Americans, stronger public health protocols for safe international travel, and protections in workplaces to keep the economy open.
You can watch on the White House website or YouTube channel:
The man attended the Anime NYC convention at the Javits Center two weeks ago. He had mild symptoms that have already subsided, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
During a COVID-19 briefing Thursday, Hochul said she has contacted city health officials. She said vaccines were required to attend the convention and advised all attendees to get tested.
While there are no reports of Omicron cases in the state, Hochul anticipates New Yorkers will be testing positive soon.
She said the new variant is “no cause for alarm,” as the state is “ready for it.”
“New Yorkers, get vaccinated, get boosted, get ready,” she said.
Dr. Leong Hoe Nam also stated,while vaccines against the strain can be developed quickly, they need to be tested over three to six months to prove that they can provide immunity against the variant.
Experts also don’t know exactly how contagious the highly mutated Omicron variant is, but the virus’ spike protein which binds to human cells has mutations associated with higher transmission and a decrease in antibody protection.
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, the infected resident is an adult male who recently returned from New York City for the Anime NYC convention from November 19 to 21. He is vaccinated and developed mild symptoms on November 22.
“This news is concerning, but it is not a surprise,” Governor Tim Walz said in a statement. “We know this virus is highly infectious and moves quickly throughout the world.”
This report comes one day after the first U.S. case of Omicron was identified in California Wednesday.
Mandatory vaccinations are also set to be debated in the country’s parliament early next year - after she has left office. Currently, around 69 percent of the population is fully vaccinated - short of the 75 percent target set by Merkel’s government.
She said the fourth wave of infections hitting Germany was “very serious” and she had been left “depressed” by the impact it is having on the country.
During a press call, a senior White House official said the administration is “pulling out all the stops to get people the maximum amount of protection as we head into the winter months.”
During his address this afternoon, President Biden will:
Announce a nationwide campaign to encourage people to get their COVID-19 booster shots.
Announce steps to ensure schools remain open by launching one-stop-shops for family vaccinations.
Expand at-home testing by distributing 50 million free at-home tests to community health sites and requiring health insurers to cover the cost of at-home tests purchased by members.
Continue to provide support to states and local communities to respond to COVID-19 cases. Strengthen travel safety by requiring all international travelers to have a negative COVID test within one day of their departure to the United States, regardless of vaccine status.
“We will continue to prepare for all scenarios and work day and night to protect the American people, keep our schools open, keep our economy growing, and get this pandemic behind us,” the official said.
People who get their first shot before the end of the year will be entered into a draw to win a slice of 2 million rand ($126,000). The government is also doubling the value of food vouchers handed out to over-50s who get vaccinated - now 200 rand ($12).
Out of all states, West Virginia had the lowest proportion of fully vaccinated people at 42 percent. 10 states in total have 50 percent or fewer of their population vaccinated - nearly all in the south.
The states with the highest percentage of their population vaccinated are Vermont and Rhode Island, both with 73 percent.
READ MORE: As First U.S. Omicron Case Reported, These States 50 Percent Vaccinated or Fewer
The drug, developed by GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology, is a “single monoclonal antibody” that binds to the spike protein on the outside of the virus, preventing it from entering human cells and replicating.
The FDA gave the green light to the same drug - an ‘Emergency Use Authorization’ - in the U.S. earlier this year for people aged 12 years and older.
Another six samples from people who tested positive for the virus in capital city Delhi - and another six samples from the state of Maharashtra - have all been sent for analysis suspected of also being the Omicron variant.
It is fuelling fears that Omicron could become to dominant strain - overtaking Delta - in a short space of time in the country and elsewhere.
FULL STORY: South Africa Reports New COVID Cases Have Doubled, Braces for Rapid Rise Amid Omicron
The French government’s top scientific adviser, Jean-Francois Delfraissy, told BFM Television that Omicron could become dominant “possibly by the end of January” but said Delta is the main priority as the country tackles a fifth wave.
The country recorded nearly 50,000 new COVID cases over 24 hours - a majority of them the Delta variant - the Health Ministry confirmed on Wednesday.
The rule requires travelers to wear face masks on airplanes, trains, ships, subways, buses, taxis, and rideshares as well as in airports, train stations, ports, and bus and ferry terminals.
FULL STORY: As First Case of Omicron Variant Hits U.S., Transit Mask Mandates to Be Extended
Follow Newsweek’s liveblog throughout Thursday for all the latest.
