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Tag: Omicron

  • Nigeria confirms three more Omicron COVID-19 variant cases

    Nigeria confirms three more Omicron COVID-19 variant cases

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed three more cases of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19.

    This was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases of the Omicron variant detected in Nigeria to six.

    Three cases had earlier been announced on December 1.

    According to the statement, all the Omicron cases so far were detected in persons with recent travel history to South Africa in November.

    “The NCDC through the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) continues to coordinate genomic surveillance activities across the country to sequence all positive COVID-19 samples from international travellers arriving in Nigeria,” the statement read.

    “This includes sequencing of positive samples from international travellers from October 2021 to date. The Delta variant remains the dominant variant and so far, we have not seen the replacement of this variant by the new Omicron variant as observed elsewhere.

    “The Omicron variant is a source of global concern because of its increased risk of transmissibility and its potential to escape protective immune responses induced by natural infection and/or vaccination.

    “Taken together, and if true, the Omicron variant can significantly change the current global COVID-19 epidemiology. There is currently no evidence of generalised or community transmission of this variant in Nigeria. However, the NCDC will continue coordinating and implementing genomic surveillance activities in-country to keep Nigerians reliably informed about existing variants, the Omicron and indeed other variants that may arise based on national data and emerging global evidence”.

    In line with Article 44 of the International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR) reporting framework, the Federal Government through the NCDC says it has also been notified by the UK Government of seven cases of travellers from Nigeria with the Omicron variant.

    Consequently, the NCDC said with the increasing number of Omicron cases in the UK, it is now prioritising the sequencing of COVID-19 positive samples in travellers with a history of travel to the UK.

    “All viruses naturally mutate over time, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Since SARS-CoV-2 was first identified, several mutations have occurred with the emergence of new lineages.

    “This will continue to happen as long as the world does not act in concert to significantly reduce transmission through vaccination and adherence to effective public health measures such as mask use, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and ensuring good ventilation,” the statement read.

    The NCDC and the Federal Ministry of Health, therefore, urged members of the public to continue to take personal and collective responsibility to ensure the safety of all Nigerians.

    It also reiterated that compliance with the travel protocols provided by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC-COVID-19) is mandatory for all international travellers arriving in Nigeria from any country.

    According to the agency, all incoming travellers should ensure their Day 2 and Day 7 tests are done as stipulated in Nigeria’s travel advisory “otherwise, there will be consequences for defaulters which may include publication of their details, suspension of their passports and ban on travel to Nigeria by the PSC-COVID-19”.

  • Beverly Naya, Ycee condemn Omicron travel ban on African countries

    Beverly Naya, Ycee condemn Omicron travel ban on African countries

    Actress, Beverly Naya and Ycee have faulted the travel ban on African countries amid concerns over the Omicron COVID-19 variant.

    Omicron — labelled a “variant of concern” — was detected by South African authorities and reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

    This had provoked several countries in the developed world to impose a travel ban on South Africa and its neighboring countries.

    In a Twitter post, Ycee described the ban as “disgusting” while accusing the developed countries of attempting to label the new COVID-19 variant as “an African thing.”

    “Honestly wish African countries would put up their own red lists too because this blatant effort to label this new variant as an African thing is just disgusting,” he wrote.

    Honestly wish African countries would put up their own red lists too cos this blatant effort to label this new variant as an African thing is just disgusting

    On her part, Naya wondered why developed nations should impose strict measures against African countries when they have fewer cases of the COVID-19 variant.

    “The UK has had around 50,000 cases for three consecutive days, Africa is not your problem and you definitely know this. The racism is disgusting!” she wrote.

    The audacity! The UK has had around 50,000 cases for three consecutive days, Africa is not your problem and you definitely know this. The racism is disgusting!

    Naya said it breaks her heart to see the continent being treated in such a manner despite its enormous potentials.

    “Breaks my heart every time I hear Africans talking about how much our continent needs the western world when it is actually the other way round,” she added.

    Breaks my heart every time I hear Africans talking about how much our continent needs the western world when it is actually the other way round. The media has seriously done a number on a lot of African minds.

    Do your research, I beg you! The world is nothing without Africa.

    “The media has seriously done a number on a lot of African minds. Do your research, I beg you! The world is nothing without Africa.

    “African nations need to form an alliance and ban all of these countries. To hell with the narrative they’ve pushed for centuries, this continent has everything they need.

    “Africa’s biggest problem is poor leadership which is the sole reason why the above may never happen.”

    African nations need to form an alliance and ban all of these countries. To hell with the narrative they’ve pushed for centuries, this continent has EVERYTHING they need.

    Africa’s biggest problem is poor leadership which is the sole reason why the above may never happen”.

  • Omicron: Why Nigeria will not make ‘hasty’ decisions like UK, Canada, others did – Health Minister

    Omicron: Why Nigeria will not make ‘hasty’ decisions like UK, Canada, others did – Health Minister

    The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has expressed disappointment over the United Kingdom government’s placement of Nigeria on its red list following the detection of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

    “We were not very happy when six countries in Sub-Saharan Africa were placed on a red list and the WHO also advised against putting each on the red list.

    “From what we know about the COVID-19, there are many ways to manage it, and besides, not much is still known about the Omicron variant. We know, for example, that there have been no fatalities.

    “There have also been no reports of very severe illness. Actually, the rationale for being so hasty in putting countries on the red list is not something that is very helpful.”

    According to the minister who spoke on Sunday on a monitored Channels Television programme, the move was ill-advised as he noted that it would have multiple impacts on commerce, and disrupt activities during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

    “It is going to disrupt commerce,” he added. It is going to disrupt family reunions.”

    He explained that while Nigeria has detected the COVID-19 virus on travellers from the UK, the cases have not been confirmed to be the Omicron variant.

    While reiterating that the placement of countries on the red list will not help in the global fight against the pandemic, Ehanire said Nigeria is anticipating the fourth wave of the disease.

    “If every country were going to put other countries on the ban list, very soon you would have a large number of countries on your red list,” the minister said.

    “So, I do believe there are other ways of going about it. We in Nigeria do not regard banning flights and movements of people as particularly helpful and supportive.”

    The UK’s move, which came a few days after Nigeria detected the new strain, followed a similar decision by the Canadian authorities.

    “Foreign nationals who have transited or stayed in these 10 countries cannot enter Canada if they have been in those countries in the last two weeks,” Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos told a press conference.

    Aside from Nigeria, Egypt and Malawi were the other countries recently added to Canada’s travel ban list.

  • UK adds Nigeria to red list travellers over Omicron fears

    UK adds Nigeria to red list travellers over Omicron fears

    Nigeria is among countries to be restricted into the United Kingdom, UK, as it’s placed in the red list to face restrictions as announced by the Health Secretary.

    All international arrivals to the UK will again be required to take pre-departure COVID-19 tests to tackle the spread of the new Omicron variants.

    The rule applies to all travellers over the age of 12 visiting the UK or returning from a holiday, regardless of vaccination status, and will come into force from 4am on Monday 6 December.

    Tests must be taken a maximum of 48 hours before the departure time.

    Sajid Javid said it was because of an “increasing number of cases linked to travel”.

    In addition, Nigeria is being added to the travel red list – joining several southern African nations which were put on it after the Omicron variant was first detected late last month.

    It means that only UK citizens and residents will be able to enter the country from Nigeria, and they will have to pay to stay in a quarantine hotel for 10 days.

    That change comes in from 4am on Monday, with Mr Javid saying Nigeria is “second only to South Africa for cases linked to Omicron”.

    He added that there are “27 cases already in England and that’s growing”.

    Mr Javid acknowledged that the measures are “hugely unfortunate” for people who already had travel plans, but insisted they would be “temporary”.

    “We want to remove them as soon as we possibly can,” he added, saying that “vaccines remain our first line of defence”.

    Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said “additional caution” was required until the Omicron “picture is clearer”.

    Travel rules are a matter for the devolved administrations, but measures introduced by Downing Street are usually replicated elsewhere, and Scotland quickly announced the same testing requirements.

    Scotland’s Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “We have always said it may be necessary to quickly implement fresh measures to protect public health in Scotland, particularly with regards to international travel, and these restrictions are proportionate and necessary to that aim.”

  • Omicron: Nigeria revises, releases amended international travel protocols

    Omicron: Nigeria revises, releases amended international travel protocols

    Nigerian authorities have revised the country’s international travel protocol amid the emergence of a new variant of the COVID-19 virus – Omicron.

    Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, announced this in a statement.

    “This revised protocol is aimed at further reducing the risk of importation and exportation of COVID-19, especially the variants of concern,” he said in that statement dated December 1.

    “The PSC assures Nigerians that it shall continue to monitor global and specific country situations with a view to taking necessary measures to safeguard the health of Nigerians.

    “The PSC calls on all Nigerians to ensure that they have taken their full dose of COVID-19 vaccinations and to continue to observe compliance to public health social measures.”

    Mustapha explained that the review of the protocol was based on science, national experience, and global developments.

    “This revised protocol comes into effect on 5th December 2021,” he added.

    In the revised protocol, passengers arriving in Nigeria are required to provide the results of a COVID-19 PCR test done within 48 hours before departure, and post-arrival Day 2 COVID-19 PCR test.

    Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals are also expected to go into self-isolation for seven days and take a Day 7 post-arrival exit PCR test.

    For out-bound passengers, they are required to provide either valid evidence of full vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative PCR test result taken within 48 hours from the time of boarding.

    Nigeria reported its first set of confirmed cases of Omicron variant (B.1.1.529 SARS-CoV-2 lineage) on Wednesday as more countries continue to ban flights from nations where infections of the new strain have been reported.

    “Samples obtained for the stipulated day two test for all travellers to Nigeria were positive for this variant in three persons with a history of travel to South Africa. These cases were recent arrivals in the country in the past week,” the Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, had said in a statement.

    Recently, Canada recently banned incoming travellers from Nigeria after it confirmed its first cases from two persons who arrived from the African nation.

  • COVID-19: Omicron variant now in 23 countries

    COVID-19: Omicron variant now in 23 countries

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) says cases of the new Omicron variant have been reported in at least 23 countries in five of the six WHO regions.

    WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, disclosed on Wednesday in Geneva and said that the number of cases was expected to grow.

    “WHO takes this development extremely seriously, and so should every country,” he told journalists listening in to the agency’s regular virtual briefing on COVID-19.

    “But it should not surprise us. This is what viruses do. And it’s what this virus will continue to do, as long as we allow it to continue spreading,” he said.

    Preliminary evidence suggests Omicron may have “potential immune escape” and or possibly higher transmissibility, when compared to previous variants of concern, according to WHO’s latest weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19, also released on Wednesday.

    He said experts were learning more about the variant, “but there’s still more to learn about its effect on transmission, severity of disease, and the effectiveness of tests, therapeutics and vaccines.”

    The WHO chief urged countries to take “rational, proportional risk-reduction measures”, including those aimed at delaying or reducing spread, such as screening passengers or implementing quarantines for international travellers.

    However, he stressed that “blanket travel bans would not prevent international spread of Omicron and they place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods.”

    Ghebreyesus emphasised the need to continue public health measures against coronavirus spread and ensure high-risk and vulnerable people are fully vaccinated.

    He warned that the current “toxic mix” of low vaccine coverage, and very low testing are a recipe for breeding and amplifying variants.

    “We need to use the tools we already have to prevent transmission and save lives from Delta.

    “And if we do that, we will also prevent transmission and save lives from Omicron. But if countries and individuals don’t do what they need to do to stop transmission of Delta, they won’t stop Omicron either,” he said.

    As of Tuesday, there were more than 261 million confirmed cases of the COVID-19 globally, and 5.2 million deaths, with the Delta variant continuing to dominate

    Meanwhile, the director-general said agreement by countries to launch a process to develop a new global accord on pandemic prevention and response was cause for hope.

    Ghebreyesus welcomed the consensus decision reached during a special session of the World Health Assembly (WHA), the UN agency’s top decision-making body, attended by representatives from its 194 member-states.

    The three-day meeting began on Monday with the sole goal of considering the benefits of creating a new international agreement on pandemic prevention preparedness and how best to avoid the pitfalls that have marred an effective response to COVID-19.

    This marked only the second time the assembly has met in a special session since WHO was founded in 1948.

    “The adoption of this decision is cause for celebration, and cause for hope, which we will need,” he said in his closing remarks, though noting the road ahead was long.

    “There are still differences of opinion about what a new accord could or should contain. But you have proven to each other and the world that differences can be overcome, and common ground can be found.”

    The decision will establish an Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) that will negotiate and draft any convention, agreement or other international instrument.

    A first meeting will take place no later than March 1, 2022 and public hearings will also be held to inform deliberations.

    The INB will deliver a progress report to the World Health Assembly in 2023 and submit its outcome for consideration the following year.

  • Omicron: Canada bans travellers from Nigeria, two other African countries

    Omicron: Canada bans travellers from Nigeria, two other African countries

    Canada on Tuesday banned travellers from Nigeria, Egypt, and Malawi over fears of the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, bringing to 10 the number of African countries targeted by Ottawa.

    “Foreign nationals who have transited or stayed in these 10 countries cannot enter Canada if they have been in those countries in the last two weeks,” Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos told a press conference.

    The measure takes effect on Wednesday, the government said.

    Any Canadians or permanent residents who have been in any of the 10 countries will need to quarantine on arrival and take a COVID test.

    Duclos also said “in the coming days,” all air travelers arriving from outside Canada, apart from the United States, will now need to be tested for Covid-19 at their point of entry, and isolated until their test results are available.

    First reported to the World Health Organization less than a week ago after being detected in southern Africa earlier in November, the Omicron variant has appeared in well over a dozen countries, stoking global fears about a coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than five million people and savaged economies worldwide.

    “The pandemic is not over,” Transport Minister Omar Alghabra added. “Travel measures could change at any moment.”

    Canada on Friday banned entry to all travelers from seven southern African countries: Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

    And on Sunday, Canada confirmed it had detected its first cases of the new Omicron strain, in two people who had traveled recently to Nigeria.

    The WHO warned on Tuesday that travel bans will not prevent the spread of the new variant after some 50 countries put similar measures in place.

    Canada has reported a total of 1,791,902 coronavirus cases and 29,681 deaths.

  • Ramaphosa’s State Visit to Nigeria successful despite Omicron scare, says Buhari

    Ramaphosa’s State Visit to Nigeria successful despite Omicron scare, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has described the State Visit of President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa to Nigeria as successful despite the scare generated by the new Omicron COVID-19 variant.

    At a joint news conference with the visiting South African leader, Buhari said new Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between Nigeria and South Africa in diverse areas were signed.

    He disclosed that existing MOUs were also reviewed for the progress and prosperity of citizens of both countries.

    “We have now come to the end of a very successful State Visit and the 10th Session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission.

    “Despite the scare generated by the new COVID-19 variant, we have been able to hold successful meetings, while observing strict COVID-19 protocols, through fraternal cooperation and understanding.

    “I sincerely wish to thank my brother and colleague, President Cyril Ramaphosa for honouring my invitation. I equally wish to thank members of the South African delegation and the experts that worked tirelessly during the senior officials meeting.

    “Today, has witnessed the signing of new Memoranda of Understanding between Nigeria and South Africa in diverse areas including youth development, women and child empowerment and political consultations; critical areas that will lead to increased people to people contact.

    “Also, existing MOUs signed during previous Bi-National Commission meetings were also reviewed. These include MOUs on military cooperation, power, cooperation in the field of geology, mining, and mineral processing, oil and gas and several others.

    “Today, we also jointly launched the Nigeria-South Africa Youth Dialogue, another veritable tool for interaction among our youth with the aim of creating shared values and aspiration.

    “Many of our youth from Nigeria and South Africa joined us virtually during the launch,” he said.

    The Nigerian president thanked Ramaphosa for initiating the Youth Dialogue, noting that continuous interaction between the youth of the two countries would further break down barriers and suspicion among them.

    He added that the inauguration of the Joint Ministerial Advisory Council on Industry, Trade and Investment, would enable the private sectors of the two largest economies in Africa to further promote economic cooperation and development.

    “We appreciate that we need to do much more to achieve further integration of our two economies and take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

    “Once again, I wish to thank my brother President and members of the South African delegation for their visit and their wonderful friendship, cooperation and solidarity, ” he said.

    Ramaphosa thanked the leaders of Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana and Senegal for expressing their dissatisfaction with the travel ban imposed on South Africa and sister neighbouring countries in the aftermath of the discovery of the Omicron COVID-19 variant by South African scientists.

    He described the imposition of the ban by some Western countries as arbitrary, discriminatory, unscientific and unproductive in the long run.

    “This is a global pandemic and overcoming it requires that we collaborate and work together as a collective.

    “The resulting damage of this travel ban to the economies of the countries affected will be considerable and long lasting.

    “I want to use this opportunity to tell the countries that have imposed this ban to reverse their decisions whether they are the northern more developed economies or in other parts of our continent or elsewhere,” he said.

  • BREAKING: Omicron variant of COVID-19 detected in Nigeria

    BREAKING: Omicron variant of COVID-19 detected in Nigeria

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced the detection of the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was announced detected in Nigeria by the NCDC on Wednesday.

    According to a statement released by the NCDC, which was signed by its Director General, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was detected in the country through genomic surveillance.

    The statement reads: “The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) conducts case and genomic surveillance for inbound international travelers arriving in the country at its National Reference Laboratory (NRL), Abuja and network of other testing laboratories.

    “Sequencing of samples from COVID-19 positive inbound travelers is currently conducted in laboratories with sequencing capacity in the country and all the sequencing data are shared in publicly accessible databases.

    “This genomic surveillance has now identified and confirmed Nigeria’s first cases of the B.1.1.529 SARS-CoV-2 lineage, now known as the Omicron variant. Samples obtained for the stipulated day two test for all travelers to Nigeria were positive for this variant in three persons with history of travel to South Africa. These cases were recent arrivals in the country in the past week.

    “Follow up to ensure isolation, linkage to clinical care, contact tracing and other relevant response activities have commenced. Arrangements are also being made to notify the country where travel originated according to the provisions of the International Health Regulations.

    “The NCDC assumes Omicron is widespread globally given the increasing number of countries reporting this variant. Therefore, it is a matter of when, not if, we will identify more cases.

    “We continue to expand our sequencing capacity in-country at the NCDC-NRL, through our network of public health laboratories and other partners.

    “Our focus is to complete sequencing of recently accrued samples of SARS-COV-2 positive travelers from all countries, especially those from countries that have reported the Omicron variant already.

    “Since reports of the emergence of this Omicron variant, the Federal Ministry of Health through the NCDC has intensified public health response measures to COVID-19 in Nigeria.

    “The national travel advisory has also been revised by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 and now requires all inbound travelers to Nigeria present a negative COVID-19 test result done not more than 48hrs before departure. Pre-booking and payment for all day 2 and day 7 COVID-19 PCR tests are prerequisites for travel.

    “In addition, all outbound passengers regardless of the requirements of destination countries are expected to present evidence of full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test done not later than 48 hours before departure”.

    TNG reports the NCDC appealed to Nigerians to adhere strictly to these travel protocols and other public safety measures to protect themselves, families, friends, the community at large and to prevent a fourth wave of COVID-19 in the country “as we combat the pandemic and these emerging variants including the Delta variant”.

    Also, the disease control centre has made recommendations for States in the country, and for the public as well, stressing that given the risk of increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant, it is essential to curb community transmission.

    “The NCDC recommends that States ensure sample collection and testing remain widely accessible, so that people who have symptoms or have been exposed to a positive case get tested quickly in healthcare and other settings.

    “This can be achieved through increased COVID-19 testing using approved antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) that are being rolled out by the NCDC and partners as well as PCR-tests where applicable.

    “Vaccination also reduces community transmission and States should effectively implement ongoing mass vaccination campaigns and encourage citizens to make use of every available opportunity to get vaccination.

    “Continued transmission as seen in largely unvaccinated populations from which this new variant has emerged also encourages the emergence of newer and possibly more dangerous variants. Interrupting transmission of the virus remains our best defense against this virus and path to returning to normalcy.

    “We can only achieve this through vaccination and adherence to the proven safety measures such as wearing face masks, regular hand washing and physical distancing.

    “We appeal to business owners, religious leaders, and people in authority to take responsibility by ensuring people in their premises adhere to these measures. We strongly urge Nigerians to only share information from trusted sources including NCDC and the Federal Ministry of Health. Our safety as a country depends on our collective responsibility,” the statement added.

  • U.S. tightens COVID-19 travel rules as countries race to quell Omicron threat

    U.S. tightens COVID-19 travel rules as countries race to quell Omicron threat

    Air travellers to the United States (U.S.) will face tougher Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing rules as several countries moved to seal-off their borders amid growing uncertainty around the virulence of the Omicron variant.

    The Omicron variant has the ability to dodge existing vaccines.

    In Asia-Pacific, Hong Kong and Japan said they would expand travel curbs, while Australia was bracing for more Omicron cases after at least two people visited several locations in its biggest city while likely infectious.

    In an attempt to stave off hasty global border restrictions, the World Health Organisation called on countries to apply “an evidence-informed and risk-based approach” to travel measures.

    Blanket travel bans will not prevent the spread, and they “place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods”, the WHO said.

    More than 50 countries were reportedly implementing travel measures aimed at potentially delaying import of Omicron as of Nov. 28, the WHO added.

    Investors remained on edge on Wednesday, even as financial markets came off lows plumbed a day earlier following remarks by the CEO of Moderna that raised questions about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines against Omicron.

    Global health officials have since sought to offer reassurances and reiterated calls for people to get vaccinated.

    “Even if the new variant becomes more widespread, the vaccines we have will continue to provide protection,” European Medicines Agency Executive Director Emer Cooke said.

    Echoing remarks by vaccine maker BioNTech and scientists, Cooke said laboratory analyses should indicate over the next two weeks whether the blood of vaccinated people has sufficient antibodies to neutralise the new variant.

    BioNTech’s CEO said the vaccine it makes in a partnership with Pfizer would likely offer strong protection against severe disease from Omicron.

    The World Health Organisation classified Omicron as a “variant of concern,” due to the number of mutations that might help it spread or evade antibodies from prior infection or vaccination.

    First reported in southern Africa a week ago, Omicron has triggered global alarm, led to travel bans, and highlighted the disparity between massive vaccination pushes in rich nations and sparse inoculation in the developing world.