SPIKE IN SOUTH AFRICA CASES
New Covid-19 cases in South Africa have burgeoned from about 200 a day in mid-November to more than 16,000 on Friday.
FIRST CASE The Cook Islands on Saturday recorded its first case of Covid19 since the pandemic began, as the South Pacific country edges toward reopening its borders to tourists.
MORE CONTAGIOUS Little is known about the new variant, but the spike in South Africa suggests it might be more contagious, said Dr Sikhulile Moyo, the scientist who may have been the first to identify the new variant.
S’PORE TRAVEL Singapore government on Saturday said employers of Pass and work permit holders in construction, marine shipyard and process sectors will not be allowed to make new applications for their employees to enter the country via the vaccinated travel lanes.
CURBS LIFTED Switzerland’s ski resorts brea thed a sigh of relief when the government lifted from Saturday quarantine restrictions imposed due to the Omicron variant, which had triggered an avalanche of booking cancellations.
MORE MUTATIONS Omicron has more than 50 mutations, and scientists have called it a big jump in the evolution of the virus.
WORRYING FACTOR In a worrisome development, South African scientists reported that Omicron appears more likely than earlier variants to cause reinfections among people who have already had a bout with Covid-19.
BOOSTER IN UK UK PM Boris Johnson set a goal of offering a booster to all adults by the end of January and decreasing the waiting period between 2nd and 3rd jabs from six to three months.
Omicron was detected over a week ago in the country’s most populous province, Gauteng, and has since spread to all eight other provinces. Joe Phaahla SA Health Minister