Thread by @weatherindia

While #Omicron has sparked global fears due to the possibility of higher transmissibility & resistance to certain vaccines, here's a quick look at the situation & actions that countries are taking to control the number of cases:

weather.com/en-IN/india/co…

📸: R Sharma / BCCL Patna

During the routine sequencing by Network for Genomics Surveillance, seventy-seven samples within #SouthAfrica's #Gauteng contained the variant.

The variant has a deletion within the S gene that helps in rapid identification.

This variant is not a 'daughter of the delta' or 'grandson of beta' but represents a whole new lineage of SARS-CoV-2, which the scientists termed B.1.1.529.

Thus it is unclear whether vaccines or booster doses may be effective against Omicron.

@WHO suggests that people previously infected with coronavirus are more likely to be reinfected by Omicron than other variants of concern such as beta or delta.

Responding to the Omicron scare, Israel and Japan have closed their doors for all foreigners.

Australia and South Korea have also banned the entry of foreigners who have travelled to southern African countries in the past 14 days

In India, the guidelines for international arrivals are to be effective from December 1.

International arrivals will now have to upload their 14-day travel history and valid negative RT-PCR test reports on the Air Suvidha portal before embarking on their journey to India.

While the chances of an increase in covid cases are equal worldwide, the disparities in vaccine supply & accessibility are evident.

While developed countries have begun with the boosters, less than 7% of people in poorer countries have received their first COVID-19 shot.