If China was strongly criticized for keeping the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak a secret that began in November 2019 and sharing genetic sequences only on public databases on January 12, 2020, countries that are transparent and transparent in sharing critical information can are quick, they are not rewarded but punished. After the first infection by a new type – it contains 32 mutations in the spike protein alone – was Confirmed from a sample collected on 9 November, Botswana and South Africa diligently posted its genetic sequence on a public database, on 23 November. Instead, the travel restrictions now imposed on South Africa and some other African countries are not only inconsistent but may actually be counterproductive. Such hasty decisions discourage countries from promptly reporting and sharing critical data with large-scale public health impacts, especially during pandemics. Demonstration of their ability to quickly detect new variants through improved surveillance through genomic sequencing by Botswana and South Africa will be rewarded through increased vaccine access to protect Africa and reduce the risk of new variants. is required. On 30 November, the Netherlands reported The samples, collected on 19 and 23 November, were of the Omicron variant, before South Africa announced its findings and the travel ban was imposed. While it is not clear whether these people had also visited southern Africa, 14 of the 61 travelers who returned from South Africa on 26 November and who tested positive for Omicron appeared to have different strains. This suggests that people ‘probably were infected independently from different sources and from different places’.
Belgium and Germany also reported the presence of the edition before South Africa flagged it. Even though the Omicron version did not appear in Europe, the appearance of an earlier version from South Africa notified it and the travel restrictions strongly suggest that the variant was already circulating in some European countries. It also reflects the relatively poor surveillance there compared to the two African countries. This underscores the need for systems that delay or minimize the spread of the new variant through the application of quarantine prior to arrival or on arrival or as recommended by the WHO. Indiscriminate travel ban is not a solution. Several countries, including India, have already reported cases of the Omicron variant, termed as ‘very high’ global risk. Although the severity of the disease in different categories of people is still unclear, preliminary evidence suggests that the new variant increases the risk of reinfection and has a potential transmission benefit, as seen in the increase in omicron cases in South Africa. . The time has come for India to speed up vaccination and better adhere to COVID-appropriate practices to reduce risk.
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