Europe studies new restrictions as omicron spreads around the world

European countries were evaluating new travel restrictions on Tuesday given the rapid spread of the omicron variant around the world days before Christmas, sowing chaos in travel plans and causing confusion in financial markets.

Omicron infections are multiplying rapidly in Europe, the United States and Asia, including Japan, where there were at least 180 cases on a military base.

New Zealand’s COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said his country, which imposed some of the toughest coronavirus measures in the world, would delay the start of a planned phased reopening of its border until the end of February.

Ómicron now accounts for 73% of all new cases in the United States, down from less than 1% at the beginning of the month. Likewise, the first death from this variant was recorded.

South Korea, the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland are some of the countries that have reimposed partial or full closures, or other social distancing measures, in recent days. Thailand will reinstate mandatory quarantine for foreign visitors from Tuesday.

The UK, Germany and Portugal are studying new measures. British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak will soon discuss his meetings with representatives of the troubled hospitality industry, which are demanding more government support, according to a government source.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that he is studying all kinds of measures to keep omicron under control.

“We reserve the possibility of taking further action, but it is a matter of analyzing that data and weighing it against the other consequences of more restrictions.“Cabinet Minister Steve Barclay told BBC radio on Tuesday when asked if more measures could be introduced before Christmas.

Ómicron has hit financial markets hard in recent days, making investors fear for the global economic recovery as the pandemic cuts off travel and blocks supply chains.

However, global stocks improved slightly on Tuesday and the dollar weakened as appetite for riskier assets returned cautiously. The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.76%, the German DAX added 0.57% and the London FTSE was up 0.8%.

In Australia, where omicron cases have risen but hospitalizations remain relatively low, Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged state and territory leaders to avoid further lockdowns.

“We are not going back to the lockdown. We are going to live with this virus with common sense and responsibility“, he claimed.

In the United States, the administration of President Joe Biden said it will open federal COVID-19 testing centers in New York this week and purchase 500 million rapid tests to take at home that Americans will be able to order online for free.