Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio announced in the afternoon of Monday (November 29) local time that Japan will prohibit all overseas tourists from entering the country unless there are special reasons or humanitarian issues. The ban will take effect on November 30 and will continue until the situation becomes clearer.
This decision means that Japan will become another country to "block the border" after Israel.
Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare also issued an announcement on November 29 that an incoming person from Namibia tested positive for the new coronavirus on the 28th, and is currently confirming whether he is infected with the new coronavirus mutant virus Omickron strain.
Kisha Fumio Kishida said at a press conference early Monday, "As the global spread, we are considering strengthening border control measures. In the face of the Omickron virus, we will respond with a strong sense of crisis. I am willing to bear my overly cautious criticism when the situation is unclear."
Home domestically planned to start the third dose of enhanced inoculation on December 1. Given that the effectiveness of the Omickron strain is still unclear, Kishida Fumio was asked whether he would modify the plan. In response, he said he would wait for the expert's verification results and would still be launched as planned under the current situation.
Japan's National Infectious Disease Research Institute announced on Monday that it had raised the alert level of the Omickron virus to the highest "mutant strains that need concern". The institute said Omickron's spike protein contains about 30 mutations, which may make it more contagious and more resistant to vaccines.
In fact, Japanese government sources revealed in the morning that due to concerns about new arrivals carrying Omickron virus, Japan plans to effectively close the borders for newly incoming foreign citizens, including business travelers, foreign students and foreign interns.
Last weekend the Japanese government announced restrictions on entry of passengers in nine African countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Simbawi, Botswana, Reisotto Kingdom, Swatini Kingdom, Mozambique , Malawi and Zambia . Even if you re-enter or return home, you are required to be quarantined at the accommodation facilities designated by the quarantine office for at least 10 days.
In the Japanese market, the Nikkei 225 index was under overall pressure during the day, and the decline in the afternoon further increased, with the latest decline of 1.8%.
According to data summarized by the Japan Radio and Television Association (NHk), on the 28th, there were 73 confirmed new coronavirus patients in Japan, which continued to show a downward trend, and there were no deaths.
The Japanese government will announce a renewed suspension of the entry of business visitors and international students, which means that Japan will actually ban all foreign tourists from entering.
"More contagious than Delta virus"
"Can bypass part of the immune system"
"May weaken the vaccine effect"
caught off guard
A powerful new coronavirus mutant strain "Omicron" Omicron
Starting from South Africa 6
quickly flooded the world html South Africa
l2
Latest news: "Omicron" has been transmitted to Hong Kong
Two confirmed cases in Hong Kong
infected with newly discovered mutant strain
11 On the evening of November 27, CCTV News quoted the Health Protection Center of the Department of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government on the 25th that genome sequencing confirmed that two positive cases in Hong Kong were infected with the Omicron (Omicron) variant strain. One of them was a recent entry into Hong Kong from South Africa, and the other was a cross-infection during hotel quarantine.
Hong Kong has had zero local new infections in more than a month. All new cases recently were imported cases, including these two cases infected with the latest reported new coronavirus mutant strain. So far, in addition to these two cases, there have been no more cases of infection with the new coronavirus mutant strain B.1.1.529 in Hong Kong. The two confirmed cases live on the same floor of the , , the Hong Kong Airport Regal Hotel. A 36-year-old man who arrived in Hong Kong from South Africa on November 11 was diagnosed on the 15th. The other is a 62-year-old man from Canada to Hong Kong on November 10, and was diagnosed on the 20th.Both patients have received two doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. For details, please click: Comparison of spike protein mutations between
△ delta strain and Omickron strain (picture from Rome Children's Hospital). The picture shows that compared with the new coronavirus mutant virus delta strain, the Omickron strain has more spike protein mutations. These variants are diverse and are mostly located in areas that interact with human cells.
What specific symptoms will Omickron cause?
So what specific symptoms will Omickron cause? The South African Medical Association also gave an answer.
According to the Russian Satellite News Agency local time report, Angelique Coetzee, president of the South African Medical Association, introduced the symptoms of infection with the new coronavirus mutant strain Omickron on the 26th local time, and said that the variant only causes "mild diseases."
, president of the South African Medical Association, Angelik Cooche, said the infection symptoms of the Omickron mutation were "unusual but mild". "This is a mild disease. The symptoms of include muscle aches, fatigue, and a mild cough with . So far, we have found that the infected person has not lost his sense of taste and smell, nor has there been obvious symptoms." Cooche also revealed that some patients are receiving treatment at home.
British scientist Andrew Pollard, who once led the joint development of the vaccine between AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and Oxford University , said that existing vaccines should be able to resist new strains, but the specific situation will not be clarified after more research data is obtained in the next few weeks. He said on the 27th that he believes that the new strain is "very unlikely" to repeat the rapid spread of delta strain , and believes that vaccines against the new strain can be developed "very quickly".
WHO recommends international collaboration to better understand the impact of all aspects of the variant strains that "need to pay attention to" through field investigations and laboratory evaluations. According to current information, experts believe that the mutant strain is more transmissible than the current mainstream virus Delta, and is likely to reduce the effectiveness of most vaccines now.
Focc said it may have existed in the United States, Britain, Germany and Italy.
-U.S.
According to CNN local time on November 27, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci said that the new coronavirus mutant strain Omickron may have appeared in the United States, but has not been found yet.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on November 26 that so far, no known cases of Omickron strain infection have been found in the United States. If the mutant strain appears in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to quickly determine the cases through a surveillance system.
U.S. President Biden announced on November 26 that the United States will restrict entry of passengers from South Africa, Botswana , Zimbabwe , Namibia, Lesotho , Swaziland , Mozambique and Malawi from November 29.
-UK
In addition, the UK announced on the 27th that two cases of infection with the novel coronavirus mutant strain "Omickron". Italy also confirmed the country's first "Omickron" infection case. At present, the Italian Ministry of Health has decided to ban people who have stayed in eight African countries including South Africa and Zimbabwe in the past 14 days.
-German
Germany's Bavarian Ministry of Health confirmed on the 27th that two passengers who arrived at the state's Munich market from South Africa on the 24th have been diagnosed with the latest new coronavirus mutant strain "Omickron". In response to the recent surge in confirmed cases in Germany and the risks brought by new strains, the German National Academy of Sciences issued a statement on the same day, calling on the government to immediately adopt blockade measures such as staged forced vaccination and severe reduction of interpersonal contact.
More than 20 countries have taken restrictive measures
found the Omickron strain in South Africa and other countries, which has aroused high global vigilance.Up to now, about 20 national and regional governments have successively issued or prepared to introduce entry restrictions on flights and passengers in southern African countries.
Among them, UK government said on the 26th that from that day on, flights from South Africa and surrounding five countries will be prohibited from entering the country, and people with relevant travel history are required to undergo nucleic acid testing and isolation. Swiss announced on the same day that all direct flights departing from Botswana, South Africa and other countries will be prohibited from entering the country indefinitely.
On November 26th local time, the Italian Ministry of Health has decided to ban people who have stayed in 8 African countries including South Africa and Zimbabwe in the past 14 days.
German Disease Control Agency has classified South Africa as " virus mutation region". All people entering Germany from South Africa must undergo 14 days of mandatory quarantine, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or not.
Pakistan National Command and Operation Center issued a notice on November 27 that Pakistan issued a travel ban on passengers from South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia and other regions.
In addition, Russian also announced that it will prohibit foreign citizens from entering some countries and regions such as South Africa from the 28th of this month.
Also, according to US media reports, US The government will impose travel restrictions on citizens from South Africa and other seven countries starting from the 29th of this month.
CanadaThe Ministry of Health also announced on the 26th that it will prohibit foreign citizens who have been to southern African countries within the past 14 days from entering the country. After the new mutant strain infection case was discovered in the country, its citizens were banned from traveling to southern Africa. On the 28th local time, Israel decided to ban all foreigners from entering the country, and the ban will last for 14 days.
Singapore and Malaysia 26 respectively announced that it will prohibit entry of tourists who have recently visited 7 countries including South Africa.
IndiaThe government issued a reminder that local governments would implement coronavirus testing and health screening for international travelers from South Africa and other "risk zones" countries.
Japanese has also implemented measures to ground inbound flights and quarantine passengers in South Africa and other countries. Regarding the travel ban issued by many countries around the world, the South African government responded on the 26th that it is strict and unscientific to impose travel restrictions on passengers from South Africa, and this practice is inconsistent with the WHO's recommendations.
Zhong Nanshan:
mutant strain hazards will take some time to analyze
Prevention and control of personnel from relevant places in South Africa
Today (November 28), the first national meeting of the Respiratory Diseases Branch of the China Rare Disease Alliance was held in Guangzhou. Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Zhong Nanshan attended the meeting and delivered a speech.
Photo source: Southern +
During the event, Zhong Nanshan said in an interview with a reporter that judging from the current situation, the Omicron variant strain spreads rapidly and has become popular in South Africa and other regions. A case has also been found in Hong Kong, China recently.
"This mutant strain is very new. Although molecular genetic testing has found that it has many changes in the receptor binding site, how harmful it is, how fast it will spread, whether it will make the disease more serious, and whether it needs to be developed for vaccines, it still needs to be judged based on the situation. It is too early to draw a conclusion."
Zhong Nanshan said that the harm of the Omicron mutant strain will take some time to judge and need to be paid attention at any time, but there will be no major actions yet. "One more important thing to pay attention to is to prevent and control people from relevant places in South Africa."
Zhang Wenhong :
will not have a big impact on China at present
Noon on November 28, Dr. Zhang Wenhong, head of the Shanghai Clinical Treatment Expert Group for COVID-19 and Director of the Department of Infection of Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, posted a post on his personal social account, expressing his own opinions on the mutated strain of the new coronavirus Omickron.
Full text is as follows:
Shanghai epidemic has entered the final stage. The new coronary mutant strain Omickron landed in the world and quickly occupied all academic forums and people's canteens. A few views are for your reference:
1. The Omickron variant was discovered to be a recent sudden event , which is undoubtedly the product of virus evolution. Since the number of mutation points far exceeds all variants found, it is expected to be formed after a long period of evolution in the host. Because the new coronavirus causes acute infection, it is difficult to survive and evolve in people with normal immune function for a long time, and there is no gene reassorption discovery like influenza virus . At present, most people believe that this variant may be carried in patients with immune function defects, such as AIDS patients, and finally evolved after a long period of time. After the new variant was formed, it was spread by chance and quickly surpassed the existing virus transmission ability in transmission, becoming the dominant strain of the virus recently recorded in South Africa (accounting for more than 90%).
2. Because it carries many viral mutation points, it seems to have defeated other South Africa's virus strains in the short term, including the Delta strain. Therefore, out of caution, the WHO has included it in the close attention mutation strain (VOC), which means it will attract great attention.
3. But does this mean that the global anti-epidemic efforts have been wasted before? It is still difficult to say now. The total number of virus strain sequences in South Africa is not large this time, and more data and laboratory data need to be observed in the next two weeks to accurately judge.
4. The vaccination completion rate in South Africa is low, with the proportion of the population completing the full vaccination process only 24%, and the natural infection rate is about 4.9%. In fact, it is not enough to build an immune barrier for vaccines and natural infection. Without an immune barrier, there is no immune breakthrough. In other words, if this situation occurs in Israel today, then there is no doubt that the global fight against the epidemic will face the risk of starting over.
5. Here it is clear why the full vaccination rate of these vaccines in the UK and Israel exceeds 80%, especially the third dose in Israel. The vaccination rate has also reached about 50%, and the measures taken by these two countries to import suddenly tightened. That is to say, in the case of South Africa, if this virus strain can break through the original immune barrier, it means that we must adjust all existing vaccine systems and start to enter the influenza vaccination mode, which means that new vaccines should be quickly built based on the virus mutation every year. But it also means that life will become more difficult.
6. According to Reuters , in order to prevent the invasion of the epidemic, Israel on the 27th Announced that the border would be closed and all foreign tourists were prohibited from entering the country, becoming the world's first country to block the border due to the "Omickron" strain. Prime Minister Bennett said that the ban may last for 14 days. This mutant strain is "very worrying". Israel is "on the brink of an emergency" and everyone should be on guard.
7. In this case, it can be judged that the South African variant virus is accidental, but whether it will pose a threat to the currently initially established vulnerable population immunity will take about two weeks to observe. Why is it initially determined Within two weeks, it is because the global epidemiological data and virus neutralization trial data will produce results within two weeks to several weeks. Our Fudan team and many brother scientific research teams in China are conducting these tasks simultaneously. However, I agree with my friend Professor Jin Dongyan, a virologist at the Hong Kong University of Hong Kong, "The mutation of the new coronavirus is subject to certain restrictions. In general, many variants of the new coronavirus have not survived. Even some of the surviving variants, only a very small number of them can become advantageous strains.From the outbreak of the epidemic to the present, at least hundreds of mutant strains have been discovered, but only one delta can stay. In the past, beta and gamma mutant strains have been proven to have relatively strong immune escape characteristics, but they still lost in the transmission competition with delta and disappeared silently. "Let's wait and see, but fortunately it won't take too long.
On the 28th local time, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a televised speech on epidemic prevention and control, announcing that it will keep the level of first-level lockdown unchanged. Ramaphosa is also "deeply disappointed" that many countries have implemented travel restrictions to African countries such as South Africa. He called for the immediate lifting of restrictions because these practices are neither fair.
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