Coronavirus

In its latest travel advisory, the UN agency includes in that category people over 60, and those with conditions such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

It also restates its position that blanket travel bans do not prevent the spread of the variant.

South Africa alerted the world about the variant last week.

Many countries then proceeded to impose restrictions on travel from countries in southern Africa.

"Blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread, and they place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods," the WHO said in its statement.

Local Level Governments and wards in the province are now empowered and equipped to enforce COVID-19 “New Normal” compliance and containment programs in their locality in the next coming months. This was achieved through a two-week information, education and communication empowerment drive throughout the province.

The variant could lead to severe consequences in some regions, the WHO said on Monday.

The head of the organisation, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, renewed a call for a global push to get vaccines to poorer nations.

Covid-19 is "not done with us" yet he warned.

The variant was detected in South Africa earlier this month with initial evidence suggesting it has a higher re-infection risk. South Africa has been praised for its prompt reporting of the variant.

The decision was made following the authorization of the use of Moderna vaccine for booster doses in more than 30 countries including the United States, the UK, Israel, Singapore, and France.

The Health Ministry said they want to ensure full protection against Covid-19 for those who will deal directly with incoming travellers when the borders reopen tomorrow.

The booster is also for those who will be at high risk of severe disease when exposed to the virus.

The Government says this move is in response to the threat of the Covid-19 variant of Omicron

The World Health Organisation has declared the new coronavirus variant to be "of concern".

The WHO said the variant had a large number of mutations, and early evidence suggested a possible increased risk of reinfection.

It was first reported to the WHO from South Africa on 24 November, and has also been identified in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel.

They are all on Fiji's red list countries. Several countries have now banned travel from southern Africa.

The draft resolution, hammered out in negotiations over the weekend, will be presented for adoption to health ministers at the WHO's three-day special assembly that opens on November 29, they said.

The diplomatic breakthrough came amid growing international concern over the new coronavirus variant Omicron, first detected in South Africa this month, which has spread further around the world.

In a Fox News report, Dr. Angelique Coetzee, who is a board member of the South African Medical Association, said she first noticed unusual symptoms on Nov. 18. 

They have been placed in isolation at a hotel near Schiphol airport.

They were among some 600 passengers held for several hours after arrival while they were tested for the virus.

Dutch health authorities said Omicron, labelled on Friday as a variant of concern, was "probably found in a number of people" who tested positive.

Other European countries, including the UK and Germany, have confirmed cases of the Omicron variant.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health said there were 77 people in hospital, including eight people in ICU.

The person who died was in their 80s and had been in Auckland City Hospital since 17 November.

"Our thoughts are with their whānau and friends at this very sad time," the Ministry said in its statement.

There are 127 new cases in Auckland, with the rest in Waikato (13), Bay of Plenty (4) and Canterbury (1).

Dr Daoni’s plea follows the drop in the number of people going for vaccination, unlike that in October. He added this might have linked to the drop in the number of COVID-19 cases reported this month as compared to last month.

As of Thursday, 25th November, 2021 a total of 272,141 have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, which is 14.6 per cent of the target population of 1869, 279 for 2021.