General travel bans will not prevent the spread of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus, the WHO warned on Tuesday, recommending those over 60 to postpone their travels.
In its recommendations, the World Health Organization noted that, until November 28, “56 countries had applied travel measures to try to delay the import of the new variant”.
However, the organization based in Geneva, whose recommendations are not always followed by its 194 member states, cautioned that “General travel bans will not prevent international spread, and place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods”.
Furthermore, these measures “May have a negative impact on global health efforts during a pandemic by discouraging countries from reporting and sharing epidemiological and sequencing data”.
In its recommendations the WHO says that “People who are not in good health or who are at risk of developing a severe form of the disease should be counseled COVID-19 or dying, including those aged 60 years or older or those with comorbidities (for example, heart disease, cancer and diabetes), which postpone the trip “.
More generally, ask all travelers to “Stay tuned”, are vaccinated and follow public health regulations regardless of their vaccination status, including the use of masks, the observance of physical distancing measures and the avoidance of crowded and poorly ventilated spaces.
Last Sunday, the regional office of the WHO in Africa he asked “Open borders”while South Africa requested the “Immediate and urgent lifting” of travel restrictions to the country after the detection of the new omicron variant.
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