U.S. to Lift Travel Restrictions for Southern African Countries

By Cara Murez

HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Dec. 27, 2021 (HealthDay News) – Starting Dec. 31, the United States will elevate journey restrictions from eight international locations in southern Africa.

The restrictions have been first introduced in late November in response to considerations about Omicron, the brand new extremely contagious variant of COVID-19. Omicron was noticed first in southern Africa.

The restrictions had been directed at journey from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi. American residents or lawful everlasting residents weren’t restricted by the restrictions, however nonetheless wanted to have a detrimental check previous to touring.

“On Dec. 31, @POTUS will elevate the non permanent journey restrictions on Southern Africa international locations. This choice was really useful by @CDCgov,” White House spokesman Kevin Munoz stated on Twitter. “The restrictions gave us time to know Omicron and we all know our current vaccines work in opposition to Omicron, [especially] boosted.”

While Omicron has way more mutations than beforehand detected variants, early information from South Africa and the United Kingdom suggests sufferers face a decrease danger of hospitalization with this specific variant. It could also be that Omicron is milder or it could possibly be that extra individuals have some immunity from prior infections or vaccination, CBS News reported.

Fully vaccinated and boosted people are having extra breakthrough infections, however they appear to be “doing higher generally than…up to now,” stated Dr. Jon LaPook, CBS News’ chief medical correspondent. Still, he warned, “you have waning immunity, especially against Omicron” and he suggested that individuals get boosters to considerably elevate their immunity.

Omicron has additionally unfold quickly by way of the United States and Europe. Most COVID-19 circumstances within the United States are actually on account of this variant.

It’s nonetheless unclear what impact Omicron will finally have within the United States, although drug producers have stated research present among the present therapies have continued effectiveness in treating it.

The World Health Organization had denounced the journey restrictions once they have been introduced.

More info

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has extra on COVID-19.

SOURCE: CBS News

WebMD News from HealthDay

Copyright © 2013-2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.