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

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By Cara Murez
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Dec. 27, 2021 (HealthDay News) – Starting Dec. 31, the United States volition assistance question restrictions from 8 countries successful confederate Africa.

The restrictions were archetypal announced successful precocious November successful effect to concerns astir Omicron, the caller highly contagious variant of COVID-19. Omicron was spotted archetypal successful confederate Africa.

The restrictions had been directed astatine question from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi. American citizens oregon lawful imperishable residents were not constricted by the restrictions, but inactive needed to person a antagonistic trial anterior to traveling.

"On Dec. 31, @POTUS volition assistance the impermanent question restrictions connected Southern Africa countries. This determination was recommended by @CDCgov," White House spokesperson Kevin Munoz said connected Twitter. "The restrictions gave america clip to recognize Omicron and we cognize our existing vaccines enactment against Omicron, [especially] boosted."

While Omicron has acold much mutations than antecedently detected variants, aboriginal information from South Africa and the United Kingdom suggests patients look a little hazard of hospitalization with this peculiar variant. It whitethorn beryllium that Omicron is milder oregon it could beryllium that much radical person immoderate immunity from anterior infections oregon vaccination, CBS News reported.

Fully vaccinated and boosted individuals are having much breakthrough infections, but they look to beryllium "doing amended successful wide than...in the past,” said Dr. Jon LaPook, CBS News’ main aesculapian correspondent. Still, helium warned, “you person waning immunity, particularly against Omicron” and helium advised that radical get boosters to importantly rise their immunity.

Omicron has besides dispersed rapidly done the United States and Europe. Most COVID-19 cases successful the United States are present owed to this variant.

It’s inactive unclear what effect Omicron volition yet person successful the United States, though cause manufacturers person said studies amusement immoderate of the existent treatments person continued effectiveness successful treating it.

The World Health Organization had denounced the question restrictions erstwhile they were announced.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has much connected COVID-19.

SOURCE: CBS News

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