United States President Joe Biden, on Thursday, 2 December, is likely to announce that starting next week, "all international travellers will be required to test negative within one day of their departure to the United States," a senior administration official was quoted as saying by AFP.
Meanwhile, France, on Thursday, 2 December, confirmed the first case of variant in a man in his 50s who had recently returned from Nigeria.
The US health authorities had identified their first case of infection caused by the Omicron variant in a fully vaccinated South Africa returnee who had arrived in California on Wednesday, 1 December.
The same day, Nigeria and Brazil also confirmed their first cases of the variant.
No COVID-19 case of Omicron variant has been reported in India so far, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had said in Rajya Sabha during Question Hour on Tuesday, 30 November.
'Omicron,' which has been declared as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), has raised alarm bells across the globe
According to the World Health Organization, it is not yet clear whether Omicron is more transmissible or severe compared to Delta
The Omicron variant is likely to spread internationally, posing a "very high" global risk where COVID-19 surges could have "severe consequences," WHO had said on Monday, 29 November
The B.1.1.529 strain of COVID-19, or Omicron, was first reported by South Africa on 24 November 2021
In Netherlands, the variant reportedly emerged a week prior to its detection in SA
In India, travellers from 'at-risk' countries will have to go undergo a mandatory seven-day home quarantine, even if they test negative for the virus
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First Case Of Omicron Variant Confirmed In France
France has confirmed the first case of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in a man in his 50s who had recently returned from Nigeria.
Negative COVID Test Required Within 1 Day of Travel to US From Next Week: Report
United States President Joe Biden, on Thursday, 2 December, is likely to announce that starting next week, "all international travellers will be required to test negative within one day of their departure to the United States," a senior administration official was quoted as saying by AFP.
Four More From South Africa Test COVID Positive in Mumbai, Samples Sent for Genome Sequencing
Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Thursday said that four passengers coming from South Africa to Mumbai have tested COVID positive. Their samples have been sent for genome sequencing, she added.
Woman From UK Tests COVID Positive in Hyderabad, Samples Sent for Genome Sequencing
A female traveller from UK who came to Hyderabad has tested positive for COVID-19. Her samples are being sent for genome sequencing and she is currently isolated in TIMS, Telangana Director of Public Health, GS Rao said on Thursday.