The US, European Union and other major destinations have moved to block flights from several African countries following the discovery of a new, potentially more transmissible variant of Covid-19.
The WHO labeled the newly discovered strain as a “variant of concern.” The B.1.1.529 variant, named Omicron, was first detected in South Africa but cases have so far been confirmed in Botswana, Belgium, Israel and Hong Kong.
While only dozens ofcases have been identified so far, Omicron is already sparking fears around the world and rattling global markets.
Australia bans entry to foreigners who have traveled to 9 countries in southern Africa
From CNN's Paul Devitt in Sydney
A Covid-19 safety sign is seen at Sydney's International Airport on November 1, in Sydney, Australia.
(Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
Australia is banning the entry of foreign citizens who have traveled to nine southern African countries in the previous 14 days over concerns of the new Covid-19 Omicron variant.
The nine countries include South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi and Mozambique, Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a news conference on Saturday.
Australian citizens, though allowed into Australia, will have to quarantine for 14 days on arrival, Hunt added.
No cases of the Omicron variant have yet been identified in Australia, and there are no direct flights from the areas of concern to the country. But some travelers have flown into quarantine-free areas from South Africa over the past two weeks and the Australian government is now chasing them up to conduct Covid tests.
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CDC says no cases of Omicron have been identified in the US
Fom CNN's John Bonifield
No cases of the new Omicron variant have yet been identified in the United States, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In a statement Friday, the CDC said any cases would be identified quickly through the nation’s variant surveillance system.
The agency recommends people follow prevention strategies such as wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high community transmission, washing your hands frequently, and physically distancing from others.
It also recommends that everyone 5 years and older protect themselves from Covid-19 by getting fully vaccinated, and encourages a booster dose for those who are eligible.
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White House releases official proclamation on travel restrictions
From CNN's Brian Rokus
Travelers walk through Terminal A at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport November 23, in Arlington, Virginia.
(Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
President Biden has signed the official proclamation restricting travel from southern Africa that will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday.
The proclamation will apply to those who have been “physically present” in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe during the “14-day period preceding their entry, or attempted entry into the United States.”
The proclamation includes a list of those exempted from the new restrictions including citizens, lawful permanent residents, and noncitizens who are the spouse of a citizen or permanent resident.
The order will remain in effect until terminated by the President and will not apply to any flights scheduled to arrive in the US that departed prior to 12:01 a.m. ET Monday.
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Brazil joins list of countries restricting flights from southern Africa in response to Omicron
From CNN's Stefano Pozzebon, Marcia Reverdosa, and Maija Ehlinger
Brazil said it will close its air borders with six African countries from Nov. 29 in response to the Omicron variant, according to the presidential chief of staff Ciro Nogueira.
Nogueira tweeted that passengers arriving from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe, will be prevented from entering the country to “protect Brazilians.”
He said the decision was agreed to by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, the Health Ministry, and the Ministry of Infrastructure.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro had previously stated he would not support such border closures.
When asked about potential flight bans earlier on Friday, Bolsonaro said, “It won’t stop, boy, what is this madness? Will the virus not enter if you close the airport? It’s (the new strain) already in here. You have to learn to live with the virus.”
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United Airlines will not stop service to Africa, moving ahead with seasonal service
From CNN's Greg Wallace
A United Airlines 787 Dreamliner prepares to land at San Francisco International Airport on October 19, in San Francisco, California.
(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
United says it will not scale back its Africa service due to the new covid variant — and is moving ahead with new and seasonal service to the continent.
CNN reported earlier that Delta will continue its service to South Africa, too.
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Johnson & Johnson testing effectiveness of its Covid-19 vaccine against new Omicron variant
From CNN's Virginia Langmaid
A nurse fills a syringe with Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Covid-19 vaccine on August 19, in Pasadena, California.
(Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)
Vaccine maker Johnson and Johnson is testing the effectiveness of its Covid-19 vaccine against the new Omicron coronavirus variant, the company said Friday.
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Moderna says Omicron represents a "significant potential risk" to vaccine and natural-induced immunity
From CNN's Virginia Langmaid
A health official prepares a syringe with the Moderna vaccine prior to administering it during a vaccination drive in Nairobi, Kenya on September 17.
(Simon Maina/AFP/Getty Images)
Vaccine maker Moderna says the new Omicron variant represents a “significant potential risk” to the efficacy of its Covid-19 vaccine as well as immunity reached naturally.
“The recently described Omicron variant includes mutations seen in the Delta variant that are believed to increase transmissibility and mutations seen in the Beta and Delta variants that are believed to promote immune escape,” Moderna said Friday in a news release.
The company said it is working rapidly to test the ability of its vaccine to neutralize the new variant and data is expected in the coming weeks.
If the current vaccine and the current booster dose of the vaccine are insufficient against the variant, one possible solution is boosting people with a larger dose, which Moderna said it is testing.
The company is also evaluating two multi-valent booster candidates to see if they provide superior protection against Omicron. Both candidates include some of the viral mutations present in the new variant.
Moderna is also evaluating an Omicron-specific booster candidate.
“We have three lines of defense that we are advancing in parallel,” Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said in the release. “The mutations in the Omicron variant are concerning and for several days, we have been moving as fast as possible to execute our strategy to address this variant.”
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European organization says there is a high risk that the new Omicron variant will spread in Europe
From CNN's Jonny Hallam
There is a “high to very high” risk that the new Covid variant, named Omicron by the World Health Organization on Friday, will spread in Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said Friday.
More context: The WHO announced Friday that it has designated Omicron, which was identified as coronavirus variant B.1.1.529, as a variant of concern.
Besides South Africa, the newly identified variant has been detected in Botswana, Hong Kong and Belgium.
It appears to be spreading rapidly in parts of South Africa and scientists are concerned that its unusually high number of mutations could make it more transmissible and result in immune evasion.
WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE), an independent group of experts, met Friday to discuss the variant, a WHO statement said.
The advisers recommended that WHO designate the variant as “of concern,” referencing the variant’s large number of mutations, the possibility of increased risk of reinfection and other evidence.
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New travel restrictions will buy US time to learn more about new variant, officials say
From CNN's Kaitlan Collins
Travelers carry luggage as they arrive at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport November 23, in Arlington, Virginia.
(Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
The new travel restrictions announced by President Biden today will buy the US federal government more time to investigate the new Omicron variant that has emerged in South Africa, officials say. But not much.
Earlier today, the Biden administration announced it will restrict travel from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi, starting Monday. The administration stressed it was acting on advice from Dr. Anthony Fauci and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, after the World Health Organization labeled the newly discovered strain as a “variant of concern.”
Inside the government, it is seen as inevitable that the new variant will appear in the US at some point, but the new restrictions should give federal health agencies and their global counterparts more time to learn about the variant, including the severity of the disease it causes. Officials do not believe, based on current thinking, that the variant is in the US yet.
Officials acted quickly to implement the new restrictions. While the emergency of the variant had been flagged in the last several weeks, it was only in recent days that they learned how serious it was.
US officials are expected to speak to scientists in South Africa again potentially on Sunday.
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New Covid-19 variant prompts these countries to impose travel restrictions
The discovery of a new Covid-19 variant first detected in South Africa prompted multiple countries to impose travel restrictions on at least six African nations.
Currently known as B.1.1.529, the newly identified variant appears to be spreading rapidly in parts of South Africa, and scientists are concerned that its unusually high number of mutations could make it more transmissible and result in immune evasion.
Cases have so far been detected in South Africa, Botswana, Hong Kong, Israel and Belgium. The World Health Organization classified it as a “variant of concern” on Friday.
These are the countries that have announced restrictions so far:
The cascade of closures began late Thursday as the UK announced it would be temporarily suspending flights from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini.
Japan has tightened border controls for travelers from the same six countries, bringing in a 10-day quarantine beginning 12 a.m. on Nov. 27. On Friday, Bahrain said it would suspend entry from those countries as well.
Fellow EU nations Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Malta have all announced imminent entry bans to all travelers who’ve entered South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini in the past two weeks. Switzerland has banned all direct flights from the same seven countries as well.
Egypt, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Jordan have also announced restrictions on the seven countries.
Meanwhile, Germany plans to declare South Africa a “virus variant area” from Friday night, which will mean that airlines may only enter from the country to repatriate German citizens.
President Biden announced that the United States will restrict travel from South Africa and seven other countries starting Monday as a new coronavirus variant has emerged, administration officials tell CNN. Acting on advice from Dr. Anthony Fauci and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Biden administration will restrict travel from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi. Officials, who are still learning more about the variant, said the policy was implemented out of an abundance of caution.
Canada is taking similar steps as the US, according to its health minister.
Greece will allow only essential travel from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Eswatini, Zambia and Malawi, the country’s health ministry said Friday. Travelers will have to obtain a special permit from the local Greek embassies and diplomatic missions to travel, the ministry said, adding that on arrival they will be tested and put in quarantine hotels for 10 days, after which they’ll be tested again. The new measures take effect Saturday at 6 a.m. local time.
Turkey issued a travel ban from five African countries — Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe — through land, air, sea and rail border crossings starting Friday night, according to a tweet from Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca.
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Saudi Arabia suspends travel from 7 African countries over new Covid-19 variant
From CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali
Saudi Arabia announced a temporary suspension of flights to and from seven African countries, namely South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.
The Saudi interior ministry said in a statement on Friday that the move was taken due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The ministry added that the exempted categories, including Saudis, coming from the seven countries should subject to a 5-day “institutional quarantine regardless of their immunization status.”
The ministry warned both citizens and residents to avoid traveling to the seven countries until further notice.
Some background: South African health authorities announced the discovery of a new and potentially more transmissible coronavirus variant on Thursday. It sparked a forceful reaction across the world, with a growing number of countries banning travelers from several southern African countries.
The B.1.1.529 was labeled a “variant of concern” by the WHO on Friday. Although it was first detected in South Africa, cases have so far been confirmed in Botswana, Belgium, Israel and Hong Kong. Scientists are concerned that its unusually high number of mutations could make it more transmissible and result in immune evasion.
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Biden said he decided to be "cautious" regarding travel ban decision
From CNN's Allie Malloy
President Joe Biden speaks to members of the media in Nantucket, Massachusetts, Friday, November 26.
(Carolyn Kaster/AP)
President Biden told the press Friday that he decided to ban travel from South Africa and seven other countries in the region due to the emergence of the Omicron variant.
When asked why the travel ban won’t go into effect until Monday, Biden said it was “because that was the recommendation coming from my medical team.”
“We don’t know a lot about the variant except that it is a big concern and seems to spread rapidly and I spent about a half-hour this morning with my Covid team led by Dr. Fauci so that was the decision we made,” Biden said.
On the stock market tumble Friday, Biden said he “expected it.”
Biden also used the opportunity to call on Americans to get their booster shots.
When asked if he was considering any new mandates, Biden said: “No. Not at the moment.”
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A new Covid-19 variant was discovered in South Africa – a country with a low vaccination rate
From CNN’s Virginia Langmaid
A healthcare worker administers the Johnson and Johnson vaccine to a woman outside a polling station at the Kopanong Hall in Soweto, on November 1st, 2021, during South Africa's local elections.
(Michele Spatari/AFP/Getty Images)
The discovery of a new and potentially more transmissible coronavirus variant by South African health authorities has sparked a forceful reaction across the world, with a growing number of countries banning travelers from several southern African countries.
The B.1.1.529 was labeled a “variant of concern” by the WHO. It appears to be spreading rapidly in parts of South Africa and scientists are concerned that its unusually high number of mutations could make it more transmissible and result in immune evasion.
Here’s what we know about Covid-19 in South Africa:
South Africa, which has fully vaccinated 35.37% of its adult population, has seen its rate of people initiating vaccination fall in recent days, according to data from the country’s Department of Health.
In the week ending Oct. 24, this metric hit its peak, with 1,047,427 people receiving a first vaccination. Since then, this metric has fallen, with 613,033 people vaccinated in the week ending Nov. 21.
More than 40% of adults – more than 16 million people – have initiated vaccination in South Africa. More than 5 million people have been vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine, and additional doses have been administered as part of a booster dose trial. More than 19 million Pfizer doses have been administered – nearly 11 million of which are first doses.
The country has administered a first dose of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine to more than 400,000 children ages 12 to 18 years old.
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Canada issues restrictions on travel from southern Africa due to new coronavirus variant
From CNN's Melissa Alonso
Canada will be “banning the entry of foreign nationals…that have traveled through southern Africa in the last 14 days,” due to the new coronavirus variant Omicron, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said at a news conference Friday.
Anyone who has traveled through southern Africa in the last 14 days should get a Covid-19 test and quarantine until they get a negative test result, Duclos said. The countries include South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Eswatini, he said.
Global Affairs Canada, which handles national diplomatic matters, will be issuing “a travel advisory asking all Canadians not to travel to southern Africa,” Duclos added.
“Canadians returning from that region” will need to be tested for the virus in the country they are departing from “before they can be allowed to come home,” he said.
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Oil nosedives 13% on fears over the new Covid-19 variant
From CNN’s Matt Egan
The discovery of a new Covid-19 variant sent oil plummeting 13% on Friday, as investors feared a wave of new government restrictions and slower economic growth.
US crude finished the day at a two-month low of $68.15 a barrel, down 13.1% from Wednesday’s close. It was the worst day for oil since April 27, 2020, when Covid was spreading rapidly in the US.
Investors closely watch movements in the oil market because crude is very sensitive to swings in the economy. Up until recently, oil prices had been on a relentless rally as the rapid economic recovery drove up demand for gasoline, jet fuel and diesel.
But that rally was been upended, first by a US-led intervention into energy markets and now, by Covid-19 fears. After flirting with $85 a barrel on Nov. 10, crude is now down nearly 20%.
Brent crude, the world benchmark, dropped 12% on Friday to $72.72 a barrel.
The energy sector of the S&P 500 tumbled 4% on Friday, making it the worst performing sector. ExxonMobil, BP and Halliburton all finished sharply lower.
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Biden to restrict travel from South Africa and 7 other countries starting Monday
From CNN’s Kaitlan Collins
President Biden will restrict travel from South Africa and seven other countries starting Monday as a new coronavirus variant has emerged, administration officials tell CNN.
Acting on advice from Dr. Anthony Fauci and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Biden administration will restrict travel from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi.
Officials, who are still learning more about the variant, said the policy was implemented out of an abundance of caution given the World Health Organization has now identified this as a variant of concern.
This does not apply to American citizens and lawful permanent residents. As with all international travelers, they must still test negative prior to travel.
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AstraZeneca says it is already conducting research on Omicron variant and its impact
From CNN’s Naomi Thomas
Vaccine maker AstraZeneca said it is looking to understand the impact the Omicron variant has on its coronavirus vaccine and it is testing its antibody combination therapy against the new variant, a spokesperson for the company said Friday.
The spokesperson said that the platform used in the vaccine enables the company to respond quickly to new variants.
AstraZeneca’s vaccine is not currently authorized for use in the US.
The company’s antibody treatment, AZD7442, is also being tested against the variant, and AstraZeneca says it is “hopeful AZD7442 will retain efficacy since it comprises two potent antibodies with different and complementary activities against the virus.”
In October, the company asked the US Food and Drug Administration to authorize emergency use of AZD7442.
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Greece bans travel from southern Africa out of concern over new Covid-19 variant
From CNN's Chris Liakos
Greece joined a growing list of countries imposing travel restrictions on at least six African nations over a newly identified Covid-19 variant, just announced as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization.
Greece will allow only essential travel from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Eswatini, Zambia and Malawi, the country’s health ministry said Friday in a statement.
Travelers will have to have a special permit from the local Greek embassies and diplomatic missions to travel, the ministry said, adding that on arrival they will be tested and put in quarantine hotels for 10 days after which they’ll be tested again.
The new measures take effect Saturday at 6 a.m. local time (12 a.m. ET).
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Novavax working on new formulation of its Covid-19 vaccine targeted toward Omicron variant
From CNN’s Naomi Thomas
Biotechnology company Novavax said it has started development of a new formulation of its coronavirus vaccine targeted toward the Omicron variant. It said the company will begin testing and manufacturing it in the next few weeks.
The World Health Organization on Friday classified the variant as a “variant of concern” and designated it with the Greek name Omicron.
The statement from Novavax said that the technology used in its vaccine allows for quick adaption to strain changes. It also highlighted that experience with the vaccine has demonstrated that it can protect and neutralize against variants found in the real world, including responses observed in clinical trials against variants like Delta.
“These data lead us to believe that our vaccine is likely to provide protection against new and emerging variants,” according to the statement.
Novavax CEO Stanley Erck told CNN earlier this month that the company hopes to submit complete data to the US Food and Drug Administration for possible emergency use authorization of the vaccine as soon as possible, perhaps by the end of the year.
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Biden has been briefed on new Covid-19 variant
From CNN’s Allie Malloy and Betsy Klein
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci testifies before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee about the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on November 4th, 2021 in Washington, DC.
(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
US President Joe Biden was briefed today on the new coronavirus variant circulating in southern Africa, according to a White House official.
Currently, “there’s no indication” that the B.1.1.529 variant is in the United States right now, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to the President and director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. US scientists are working closely with colleagues in South Africa to learn more about the emerging variant.
“Right now, you’re talking about sort of like a red flag that this might be an issue — but we don’t know,” Fauci said.
The variant, which was classified as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization, was first identified in South Africa and has been found in that country as well as Botswana, Hong Kong, Belgium and Israel so far. It has led to various countries issuing travel restrictions from several African countries.
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Dow logs worst day in over a year as fears over new Covid-19 variant grip global markets
From CNN’s Anneken Tappe, Robert North and Chris Liakos
The Hong Kong Exchange shows indices in the red after a day of losses triggered by a new COVID variant, the Hang Seng Index dropping by over 600 points on 26th November 2021
(Marc Fernandes/NurPhoto/Getty Images)
Stocks around the world tumbled in the face of a new Covid-19 variant, which was labeled as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization.
US equities took a dive at the open and continued a downward path, resulting in a terrible day for the stock market and the worst day for the Dow in over a year. Oil prices were also badly hit.
The new variant has been detected in South Africa, Botswana, Hong Kong, Belgium and Israel, prompting some countries to put flight bans in place.
Over the summer, the Delta variant spooked consumers and weighed on sectors like leisure and hospitality. Now, investors and economists worry this new variant could do the same.
It was a shortened trading session that ended at 1 p.m. ET after the markets were closed Thursday for Thanksgiving. Traditionally, this half-day session is lower in trading volume, which can exacerbate the swings in the market.
Outside the US, European stocks closed down sharply lower after fears over the variant sparked a global sell-off. In the UK, the FTSE 100 ended the session 3.6% lower, Germany’s Dax was down 4% and the CAC 40 4.8% lower in France.
Asian stocks started the sell-off, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropping 2.7%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 was down 2.5%. European and US markets quickly followed. Oil has fallen heavily too, with Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, down 10%.
Travel and airline stocks were among the big fallers in Europe.
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WHO designates new coronavirus variant "of concern," naming it Omicron
From CNN's Emmet Lyon, Ben Kirby and Jacqueline Howard
The World Health Organization will label the new Covid-19 variant as a “variant of concern.”
“There was a meeting today, WHO and the technical working group on virus evolution, and it has been agreed to classify this variant as a ‘variant of concern,’” Dr. Mary Stephen, technical officer at the WHO regional Office for Africa, told CNN’s Zain Asher.
WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE), an independent group of experts, convened Friday to discuss the new variant.
The advisers recommended that WHO designate the variant as “of concern,” referencing the variant’s large number of mutations, possibly an increased risk of reinfection and other evidence.
A statement released by the WHO added that the new strain will be given the name Omicron.
The variant was first discovered by South African health authorities and has sparked a forceful reaction across the world with a number of countries banning travelers from several southern African countries.
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Expert: We need "a rapid scale-up of vaccinations," not travel bans
From CNN's Leinz Vales
The discovery of a new, potentially more transmissible, strain of the coronavirus is prompting governments around the world to ban travelers from several southern African nations.
However, one expert suggested Friday that instead of travel bans, the way to combat the variant first detected in South Africa is to “implement a rapid scale-up of vaccinations.”
“This has been identified in Hong Kong, in Israel, in many other places. Once you get it there, it really doesn’t matter. I mean, you already have it spread globally so what we need to do, again, is implement not travel restrictions but implement the kind of things that we know that control the spread.”
Del Rio highlighted that travel bans can have the unintended consequence of hampering transparency.
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Jordan issues fresh travel restrictions over new Covid-19 variant
From CNN's Jomana Karadsheh and Mohammed Tawfeeq
Jordan has announced any Jordanians arriving from several countries — including South Africa — will have to quarantine for 14 days, according to a report from Jordanian public broadcaster Al-Mamlaka on Friday.
The move follows the discovery of a new and potentially more transmissible coronavirus variant by South African health authorities, which has sparked a forceful reaction across the world.
Currently known as B.1.1.529, the newly identified variant appears to be spreading rapidly in parts of South Africa. Scientists are concerned that its unusually high number of mutations could make it more transmissible and result in immune evasion.
No cases of the new variant have been discovered in Jordan at this point.
The new measure will go into effect on Sunday. Jordan doesn’t have direct flights with South Africa or the other six countries.
A few days ago, Jordan announced that it had entered a third wave of the pandemic.
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Dubai will restrict travelers from 7 African countries starting Monday
From CNN’s Mostafa Salem and Celine AlKhaldi
Dubai will restrict travelers from seven African countries, including South Africa, according to Emirates, citing the country’s Covid-19 Command and Control Centre.
The restrictions will be enforced starting Monday.
The countries include: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
However, outbound passenger flights from Dubai to the countries listed are permitted, the statement said.
Dubai’s announcement follows similar measures by the United Kingdom and a slew of European and Asian countries, which have banned travel and introduced quarantine requirements following the discovery of an aggressive mutation of the Covid-19 virus.
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Hundreds of passengers from South Africa held at Amsterdam airport after travel ban imposed
From Sharon Braithwaite
Passengers travelling from South Africa queue to be coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tested after being held on the tarmac at Schiphol Airport, Netherlands November 26th, 2021, in this picture obtained from social media
Hundreds of passengers are being held at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and are waiting to be tested for Covid-19 after landing from South Africa earlier Friday, an airport spokesperson told CNN.
The Netherlands is one of the latest European Union countries to ban travelers from South Africa and other southern African nations over concerns about the spread of a new Covid-19 variant.
Two flights, one from Cape Town and one from Johannesburg, landed Friday late morning local time, the spokesperson said.
Passengers had to remain on board the flight while a separate, secure location in the airport was being located, he said.
“Around 2:30 p.m. local time (8:30 a.m. ET), the passengers were brought to this location where they are now waiting to be tested,” the spokesperson said, adding that given the high number of passengers “it will take time to test everyone.”
“The health department [is] currently testing all the passengers,” he said, adding that food and drinks are being provided to them.
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It's 12 p.m. ET in New York. Here's what we know about the new Covid-19 variant
The discovery of a new and potentially more transmissible coronavirus variant by South African health authorities has sparked a forceful reaction across the world with a number of countries banning travelers from several southern African countries.
Here’s what we know so far:
What is it? A new coronavirus variant —currently dubbed B.1.1.529 — was identified in South Africa. It is unclear where the strain first emerged, the health ministry said. It appears to be spreading rapidly in parts of South Africa and scientists are concerned that its unusually high number of mutations could make it more transmissible and result in immune evasion.
Where is it? It has so far been detected in South Africa, Botswana, Israel, Belgium and Hong Kong.
Global response: Only dozens of cases have been identified so far, but the news has prompted countries around the world to impose travel restrictions on South Africa and other African countries. The United Kingdom and a slew of European and Asian countries have banned travel and introduced quarantine and test requirements for travelers.
Markets tumble: US equities took a dive at the open and continued their downward path Friday morning with the Dow tumbling a whopping 1,000 points. Oil prices were also badly hit. Asian and European markets were also down.
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Dow drops over 1,000 points on fears over new Covid-19 variant
Stocks fell and oil prices plunged more than 10% on Friday as the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant rattled global markets.
US markets, which were closed Thursday for Thanksgiving, were slammed during Friday’s shortened trading session. The Dow fell more than 1,000 points or 2.8%. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq were down nearly 2%.
Asian markets led the way, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropping 2.7%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 was down 2.5%. European markets also sold off heavily, with major indexes including the FTSE100, France’s CAC40 and Germany’s DAX falling between 3% and 4%.
US oil futures sank by more than 11% to trade below $70 a barrel. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, suffered a similar drop to around $73.
While “volatility with high frequency markets is the norm these days,” CNN international business correspondent Richard Quest said, markets will likely be affected for a longer amount of time.
“Longer term, yes, I also would expect the markets to be volatile and to be jittery … because the markets don’t like uncertainty,” he said.
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Travel restrictions not a long-term solution to Covid-19 variants, international travel body says
From CNN’s Chris Liakos
People lineup to get on the Air France flight to Paris at OR Tambo's airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday November 26th, 2021. A slew of nations moved to stop air travel from southern Africa on Friday in reaction to news of a new, potentially more transmissible COVID-19 variant that has been detected in South Africa.
(Jerome Delay/AP)
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is urging caution against travel bans after several countries moved to suspend flights from South Africa and other southern African countries due to the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant.
Travel stocks were hit hard Friday following fresh travel restrictions, with big airlines dropping sharply. IAG dropped 15%, Lufthansa 11% and Air France 9%.
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European Commission proposes activating "emergency brake" on travel from certain countries
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a media statement on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, on November 26, 2021.
(Johanna Geron/AFP/Getty Images)
The European Commission has proposed an “emergency brake” on travel from some countries and urged those who have not been vaccinated to do so immediately as concerns grow over a new coronavirus variant, which scientists say has a high number of mutations.
The European Commission is taking the news of the variant “very seriously,” President Ursula von der Leyen said in remarks on Friday, and Europe should “act very swiftly, decisively and united.”
She said she’s spoken with scientists and vaccine manufacturers, and they also support precautionary measures.
Von der Leyen encouraged all people to continue practicing other measures such as wearing masks and social distancing.
Watch her remarks here:
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Vaccine scientists are already testing the new coronavirus variant
From CNN’s Michael Nedelman and Frederik Pleitgen
Scientists at BioNTech have already started investigating the impact of a new coronavirus variant on its Covid-19 vaccine, with data expected within the next couple of weeks.
The new variant appears to be spreading rapidly in parts of South Africa and scientists are concerned that its unusually high number of mutations could make it more transmissible and result in immune evasion.
BioNTech said the upcoming data would shed light on ”whether B.1.1.529 could be an escape variant that may require an adjustment of our vaccine if the variant spreads globally.”
For months, the heads of both Pfizer and BioNTech have said that the companies can adapt their vaccine, which uses mRNA technology, within six weeks and begin shipping first batches within 100 days, if needed.
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WHO says it's working to understand more about the new Covid-19 variant
From CNN’s Naomi Thomas
World Health Organization's technical lead on the coronavirus pandemic, Maria van Kerkhove gestures during an interview with AFP in Geneva on October 13, 2020.
(Richard Juilliart/AFP/Getty Images)
The World Health Organization is working to understand more about the new coronavirus variant, WHO’s technical lead for Covid-19 Maria Van Kerkhove said during a social media question and answer session on Thursday.
“We don’t know very much about this yet. What we do know is that this variant has a large number of mutations,” she said. “And the concern is that when you have so many mutations, it can have an impact on how the virus behaves.”
The B.1.1.529 variant was detected by South African colleagues who reported it to the WHO, Van Kerkhove said, adding that there are fewer than 100 full genomic sequences available for it.
Van Kerkhove thanked South African colleagues for doing “incredible” genomic sequencing and research, adding that they are planning to do neutralization studies to understand what impact that variant may have.
WHO’s technical advisory group on virus evolution will meet Friday to discuss whether the strain will become “a variant of interest or a variant of concern,” she said.
Van Kerkhove cautioned that the more the virus circulates, the more opportunities it has to mutate, saying that transmission needs to be driven down to reduce the possibility of more variants emerging.
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Dow tumbles 900 points as fears over new Covid-19 variant grip global markets
Hong Kong identifies second case of new coronavirus variant B.1.1.529
From CNN's Alex Stambaugh
People leave the Regal Airport Hotel at Chek Lap Kok airport in Hong Kong on November 26, 2021, where a new Covid-19 variant deemed a 'major threat' was detected in a traveller from South Africa.
(Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images)
Hong Kong health authorities have identified a second case of the B.1.1.529 coronavirus variant, after South African officials earlier identified one confirmed case in a traveler from South Africa to Hong Kong.
Genome sequencing analysis by the University of Hong Kong confirmed that both cases had “highly similar genetic sequences” and belonged to the newly emerged B.1.1.529 variant, the government said in a news release Thursday.
The two cases were identified among returning travelers on the same floor of a designated quarantine hotel, the Regal Airport Hotel.
Health authorities have ordered at least 12 people in nearby rooms who stayed from Nov. 11–14 to undergo mandatory Covid-19 testing and an additional 14 days of quarantine at a government quarantine center.
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Welsh rugby teams leave South Africa as UK announces travel ban over new Covid-19 variant
From CNN’s Becky Thompson in London
Welsh rugby union teams Cardiff Blues and Scarlets have announced they are returning home from South Africa after the country was added to the UK travel red list, following the discovery of an aggressive mutation of the Covid-19 virus there.
Scarlets added in a statement on their website: “Following the news of a new Covid variant in South Africa, Scarlets would like to assure families and friends that we are making every effort to get our touring party back home to the UK as soon as possible. We will provide further updates as soon as we can.”
The UK announced it would be imposing restrictions on flights and travelers from six African nations after a new variant of the coronavirus – B.1.1.529 – was detected in South Africa. The other countries added to the list are Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Eswatini.
Fellow EU nations Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Malta have all announced imminent entry bans to all travelers who’ve entered South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini in the past two weeks.
The Vodacom United Rugby Championships announced on Friday that they will postpone matches scheduled to take place this week and next week in South Africa.
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Spain will consider a travel ban on South Africa and Botswana
From CNN’s Tim Lister and Mia Alberti
Spain will consider imposing a travel ban on flights from South Africa and Botswana during its next cabinet meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, November 30, the country’s health ministry announced in a statement.
Passengers returning from high-risk countries will now have to present a negative test, it added.
No case of the new B.1.1.529 Covid-19 variant has been found in Spain, according to the statement.
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US markets open in the red as fears of new Covid-19 variant rattle global markets
A stock trader looks at his monitors in the trading room of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Worries about a new coronavirus mutation in southern Africa have dealt a heavy blow to the German stock market on 26th November 2021
(Arne Dedert/Getty Images)
The Dow opened some800 points lower on Black Friday as stocks around the world tumbled in the face of a new Covid-19 variant.
At the opening bell Friday, Wall Street was deep in the red, with the Dow falling 2.2%, or about 800 points. The broader S&P 500 tumbled 1.5% and the Nasdaq Composite opened down 1.1%.
“A 2% move is a big move for these markets,” Romans continued. “And it just shows you the uncertainty of this new variant is really causing investors to rush to safer havens like the bond market and some different currencies.”
The New York Stock Exchange will close at 1 p.m. ET after being closed Thursday for Thanksgiving. Reduced trading volume during this half-day session is also likely to exacerbate the swings in the market.
The variant, B.1.1.529 — which has been detected in South Africa, Botswana, Belgium, Israel and in a traveler to Hong Kong from South Africa — has a high number of mutations, according to scientists, and has led to travel bans in some countries.
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Biden administration and US airlines are closely monitoring the new variant detected in South Africa
From CNN's Kaitlan Collins and Pete Muntean
Health officials in the Biden administration are closely monitoring a new coronavirus variant that has emerged in South Africa. However, no decision has been made on imposing travel restrictions yet, according to an official familiar with discussions.
Currently known as B.1.1.529, the newly identified variant appears to be spreading rapidly in parts of South Africa and scientists are concerned that its unusually high number of mutations could make it more transmissible and result in immune evasion.
The new strain has triggered a wave of travel restrictions in several European countries and the United Kingdom has added six African countries to its travel “red list,” including South Africa.
Major US airlines, including Delta, United and American Airlines, say they are closely watching the new Covid-19 variant but have not imposed any changes so far.
Delta “will continue to work closely with our government partners to evaluate any changes to US policy,” the company told CNN.
Delta says its travel partner Virgin Atlantic has now canceled its service between Johannesburg and London Heathrow.
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Belgium confirms 1 case of the new Covid-19 variant first detected in South Africa
From CNN’s Tim Lister, Amy Cassidy, Xiaofei Xu, Livy Doherty, Niamh Kennedy, Mia Alberti.
Vice-prime minister and Public Health and Social Affairs minister Frank Vandenbroucke pictured during a press conference after a meeting of the consultative committee with ministers of the Federal government, the regional governments and the community governments, to discuss the rising Covid-19 infections, Friday 26th November 2021 in Brussels.
(Dirk Waem/AFP/Getty Images)
The Belgian government has said that one individual has tested positive for the B.1.1.529 variant, the new strain of the coronavirus that was just detected in South Africa.
Belgium is the first European country to confirm a case of the new variant.
The individual tested positive for the new variant of Covid-19 on Nov. 22, Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said.
The patient was unvaccinated and had recently travelled from Egypt, tweeted Marc Van Ranst, Belgium’s leading virologist who originally discovered the case.
Shortly after this announcement, France announced that it is “reinforcing” control at its border with Belgium, the government’s spokesperson told reporters on Friday.
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South Africa expresses concern over "rushed' travel restrictions due to new Covid-19 variant
Members of a cabin crew walk through International Arrivals, at London's Heathrow Airport, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. The U.K. announced that it was banning flights from South Africa and five other southern African countries effective at noon on Friday, and that anyone who had recently arrived from those countries would be asked to take a coronavirus test.
(Alberto Pezzali/AP)
The South African government issued a statement describing the United Kingdom’s decision to ban travel from the country as “rushed,” and expressed concern about the damage it would cause to “both the tourism industries and businesses of both countries.”
The UK temporarily suspended flights from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini following the discovery of an aggressive mutation of the Covid-19 virus in South Africa.
The country’s decision was the first among a cascade of closures that began late Thursday. Many European and Asian nations followed suit, echoing previous emergency responses that triggered a global freeze on travel.
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Germany’s acting health minister: Covid-19 situation “more serious than at any other time in the pandemic”
From Nadine Schmidt in Berlin
German Health Minister Jens Spahn makes a statement during a press conference about the current pandemic situation in the country in Berlin, Germany on November 26th, 2021.
(Abdulhamid Hosbas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
As worries over the B.1.1.529 coronavirus variant lead to travel restrictions imposed on some African countries, other nations in central Europe have seen Covid-19 cases soar as they issue lockdowns and dire warnings.
Germany’s acting Health Minister Jens Spahn said “wake-up calls [have] not reached everyone in Germany” at a health press conference in Berlin, warning that “contact restrictions must be reduced.”
Spahn said Germany must do more to tackle record levels of infections. Last week, outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the country was limiting public access for the unvaccinated.
”We need a massive reduction in contacts between people — immediately”, the country’s head of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) Lothar Wieler reiterated at the same press conference. “The number of patients in ICUs is rising rapidly.”
Wieler said that in some Covid-19 hotspot areas, patient transfers to others have started as ICUs are overfilled.
Germany on Friday broke the record of daily Covid-19 infections with 76,414 new cases in a single day. On Tuesday, Germany recorded 75,961 Covid-19 cases.
More than 100,000 people have died as a result of coronavirus in Germany, according to RKI data. The country reported 357 new deaths related to Covid-19 from Thursday to Friday.
According to the RKI, the country’s seven-day incidence rate has also hit new record levels, rising to 438.2 cases per 100,000 people. The new total for Covid-19 cases in Germany is now 5,650,170.
Germany’s health experts say one reason for the spike is the country’s full vaccination rate, which at just under 68% is one of the lowest in western Europe. Around 32% have no protection against the virus, according to the RKI.
Other countries take action: Austria reimposed a national lockdown. Slovakia is locked down until December 9 and a state of emergency will last for 90 days. The Netherlands has returned to partial lockdown, and Hungary and the Czech Republic are among four new additions to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s highest-risk travel category.
-Amy Cassidy and Maureen O’Hare contributed to this report.
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Israel announces sweeping travel restrictions following discovery of new Covid-19 variant
From CNN's Andrew Carey and Amir Tal in Jerusalem
Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced sweeping travel restrictions for most of Africa after one case of the new Covid-19 variant was confirmed in the country.
The new B.1.1.529 variant was found overnight in a person returning from Malawi.
Speaking at a press conference in Tel Aviv Friday afternoon, along with Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz and senior health officials, Bennett said there were three further suspected cases in Israel that awaited confirmation pending final test results. He said he expected more cases to come to light in the coming days.
The prime minister said that all African countries, other than those in the north of the continent, were being added to a new red list. Mauritius, the Seychelles and Madagascar would also be added to the list.
People from these countries will not be allowed to enter Israel. Even Israelis who have received three doses of the Covid-19 vaccine will need to isolate at a designated hotel on returning from these countries until they have twice tested negative in a PCR test.
Anybody recently returned from an African country (other than those in the north) will be called for a PCR test and instructed to remain in home isolation until the result of the test is known, Bennett said.
Israelis are not banned from traveling to a “red” country, but they need special permission from a government committee to make the journey.
The prime minister said Israel’s government had recently carried out a national drill to prepare for the emergence of a new variant and that the lessons learned — which he described as the need “to act fast, early, hard and strong” — were being put into practice.
Even if it turns out in a couple of weeks that B.1.1.529 does not sweep across the world, Bennett said it made sense to prepare now for the possibility that it might.
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New Covid-19 variant rattles global markets
From CNN's Laura He and Mark Thompson
A photographer takes pictures of an electronic quotation board displaying the Nikkei 225 index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on November 26, 2021.
(Photo by Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images)
Dow futures plunged and oil fell more than 6% on Friday as the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant rattled global markets.
Asian stocks led the way, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropping 2.7%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 was down 2.5%. European markets sold off heavily, with major indexes including the FTSE100, France’s CAC40 and Germany’s DAX all down by between 2.5% and 3%.
US markets were slammed before the start of Friday’s shortened trading session. Dow futures fell more than 800 points, or about 2.3%, at 6.45 a.m. ET. Futures for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq were down around 1.8% and 1% respectively.
US oil sank 6.8% to around $73 a barrel. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, fell 6% to around $77.
South Africa’s health minister said Thursday that a new coronavirus variant appears to be spreading rapidly in parts of the country. It has also been detected in Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel.
The new strain has already prompted the UK government to ban flights from six African countries. Some EU countries are taking similar measures. UK Health Minister Sajid Javid said the variant “may be more transmissible” than the Delta strain and that “the vaccines that we currently have may be less effective.”
Travel and airline stocks are among the biggest fallers Friday.
Rob North and Nadine Schmidt contributed to this article.
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Fauci: There is no current indication that the new coronavirus variant is in the US
From CNN’s Naomi Thomas
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said there is no indication that the new coronavirus variant identified in South Africa is currently in the US.
A discussion with South African scientists later today was just arranged to get all the facts, he added.
Fauci said they are trying to get the precise molecular makeup of the variant so that it can be tested – something which will take a bit of time to put the materials together for. The US is “in very active communication” with colleagues in South Africa, he added.
The US will also try to determine if its vaccines provide protection against this variant, Fauci said.
“You need to get that particular sequence of the virus, put it in a form in the lab where you can actually test the different antibodies, so you can have a prediction that it might evade, or you can actually prove it,” he said.
That will also determine the US response to the variant and the countries it is currently present in, he added.
Watch:
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UK bans flights from 6 African countries over new Covid-19 variant
From CNN's David McKenzie and Ghazi Balkiz
After South Africa’s health minister announced the discovery of a new coronavirus strain on Thursday, UK officials announced that six African countries will be added to England’s travel “red list.”
UK’s Health Minister Sajid Javid said flights to the UK from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe will be suspended from midday Friday and all six countries will be added to the red list – meaning UK residents and British and Irish nationals arriving home from those points of departure must undergo a 10-day hotel quarantine at their own expense.
This comes after the UK Health Security Agency flagged concern over the new Covid-19 strain.
Javid added the UK “hasn’t detected any of this new variant” in the country so far.
On Friday, South African officials will brief the World Health Organization, which has classified B.1.1.529 as a “variant under monitoring.”
South Africa, like much of the region, has suffered through three significant Covid-19 waves since the pandemic’s start. While the number of new infections across the country is now still relatively low and positivity levels are under 5%, public health officials have already predicted a fourth wave because of a slow vaccine uptake.
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A new Covid-19 variant is spreading in South Africa. Here's what we know.
David McKenzie and Ghazi Balkiz
Scientists work on the COVID-19 at the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Prof Tulio de Oliveira, the director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation in South Africa, said there was an unusual constellation of mutations and that it was very different to other variants that have circulated. In a media briefing Prof de Oliveira said there were 50 mutations overall and more than 30 on the spike protein
(Eyepress/Reuters)
South Africa’s health minister announced Thursday the discovery of a new coronavirus variant that appears to be spreading rapidly in parts of the country.
It has so far been detected in South Africa, Botswana and in a traveler to Hong Kong from South Africa, Phaahla added.
During a news briefing, genomic scientists said the variant has an unusually high number of mutations, with more than 30 in the key spike protein – the structure the virus uses to get into the cells they attack.
Professor Tulio de Oliveira, the director of the Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation, said the variant has “many more mutations than we have expected,” adding it is “spreading very fast and we expect to see pressure in the health system in the next few days and weeks.”
He advised the public to “try to avoid super spreading events.”
Officials also expressed concern that the mutation could result in immune evasion and enhanced transmissibility of the virus, but added it is too early to tell what kind of impact the mutations will have on vaccine efficacy. More studies also need to be conducted to understand the clinical severity of the variant compared to previous variants, officials said.
“The full significance of this variant remains uncertain and the best tool we have is still the vaccines,” De Oliveira said. He added that lab studies still need to be carried out to test vaccine and antibody evasion.
