Please also see these other threads on South Africa:
South Africa: Spike in Covid-19 infections may be ‘first signs’ of fourth wave in Gauteng: Prof Bruce Mellado - November 25, 2021
Int J Epidemiol . Estimated SARS-CoV-2 infection rate and fatality risk in Gauteng Province, South Africa: a population-based seroepidemiological survey
South Africa - 1 new outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in lions in zoo, Johannesburg, Gauteng (OIE, July 27, 2021)
Flu is spiking in South Africa, especially over the past 2 weeks - NICD - November 19, 2021
Scientists mystified, wary, as Africa avoids COVID disaster? Not so much.... November 19, 2021
Announcement
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No announcement yet.
Omicron - COVID-19 Variant (B.1.1529) a "Variant of Concern" & BA.2 sub-variant, XE
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This is a sticky topic.
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Update, patient zero at the Regal Airport Hotel wore an exhale valved mask...
The traveller from South Africa used a mask with a valve that doesn’t filter exhaled air and may have transmitted the virus to his neighbour when the hotel room door was open, a health department spokesperson said Friday.
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Tracking COVID-19 variant Omicron
Published 11 hours ago
November 26, 2021
... This page will be updated several times a day.
Map of confirmed cases of Omicron
BNO News and Newsnodes are tracking confirmed and suspected cases of Omicron, a coronavirus variant which is also known as B.1.1.529. Omicron was designated as a Variant of Concern by the World Health Organization on November 26, 2021. This page will be updated several times a day. The tracker has been moved. Click here for …
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Flights from eight African nations to be blocked as new variant is classified as being "of concern".
Coronavirus: EU to block flights after Belgium new variant case
EU nations will impose an emergency flight ban on countries in southern Africa after the discovery of a new coronavirus variant there, an EU Commission spokesperson has said.
Eric Mamer said member states agreed to the ban after Europe's first case of the variant was discovered in Belgium.
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Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Belgium
Report of the National Reference Laboratory (UZ Leuven & KU Leuven)
Situation update – 26 of November 2021 (report 2021_56)
Executive summary
South Africa has communicated on 25/11/2021 the emergence of a new variant of concern (will probably be named Nu, corresponding to the pangolin lineage B.1.1.529). In this report, we discuss the current situation in South Africa and the world, and we assess the current situation in Belgium.
We report here the first case of B.1.1.529 infection in Belgium.
Authors (National Reference Laboratory – UZ Leuven and KU Leuven):
Piet Maes, Lize Cuypers, Simon Dellicour, Guy Baele, Tom Wenseleers, Caspar Geenen, Bram Slechten, Johan Van Weyenbergh, Els Keyaerts, Barney Potter, Sunita Janssenswillen, Elke Wollants, Marc Van Ranst, Emmanuel André.
Table of contents- Situation in South Africa
- Available genomic data worldwide
- Genetic profile of B.1.1.529
- High-throughput deep mutational scanning
- Situation in Belgium
- First case of B.1.529 in Belgium
- Recommendations
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Originally posted by sharon sanders View PostReports of various countries border restrictions implemented or under consideration
Coronavirus: EU to block flights after Belgium new variant case
Published1 hour ago
snip
"It is now important that all of us in Europe act very swiftly, decisively and united," she said on Friday.
The EU is already struggling to cope with fresh waves of the virus, and several countries have re-imposed lockdowns and restrictions.
Singapore, Italy, France and Israel are among those who have also placed Mozambique on their red lists.
The Czech Republic will ban anyone who has spent more than 12 hours in those nations and also Zambia from entering as of Saturday.
Japan has announced that from Saturday, travellers from much of southern Africa will need to quarantine for 10 days and take a total of four tests during that time.
"The key to crisis management is to prepare for the worst," the Japan Times newspaper quoted chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno as saying.
more
Flights from eight African nations to be blocked as new variant is classified as being "of concern".
@AP
9m
The European Union nations have agreed to impose a ban on travel from southern Africa to counter the spread of a new COVID-19 variant. The risks of the variant remain largely unknown, and medical experts including the WHO have warned against overreaction.
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World Health Organization (WHO)
2m
The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution met today to review what is known about the #COVID19 variant B.1.1.529. They advised WHO that it should be designated a Variant of Concern.
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Reports of various countries border restrictions implemented or under consideration
Coronavirus: EU to block flights after Belgium new variant case
Published1 hour ago
snip
"It is now important that all of us in Europe act very swiftly, decisively and united," she said on Friday.
The EU is already struggling to cope with fresh waves of the virus, and several countries have re-imposed lockdowns and restrictions.
Singapore, Italy, France and Israel are among those who have also placed Mozambique on their red lists.
The Czech Republic will ban anyone who has spent more than 12 hours in those nations and also Zambia from entering as of Saturday.
Japan has announced that from Saturday, travellers from much of southern Africa will need to quarantine for 10 days and take a total of four tests during that time.
"The key to crisis management is to prepare for the worst," the Japan Times newspaper quoted chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno as saying.
more
Flights from eight African nations to be blocked as new variant is classified as being "of concern".
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Cases increased rapidly in Gauteng in November, particularly in schools and
among young people, according to Lessells.
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2 weeks until BNT knows whether it's a vaccine escape.
Then 100 days until they can deliver the first charges of an adapted vaccine.
Too late for a possible spring-wave in March-April
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Belgium confirms case of new, heavily mutated Covid variant
PUBLISHED FRI, NOV 26 20218:43 AM EST
Belgium has confirmed a case of the new, heavily mutated variant of the virus that causes Covid-19, according to one of the country’s leading virologists.
Marc Van Ranst, who works with the Rega Institute for Medical Research, said a sample was confirmed as the novel B.1.1.529 variant in a traveler who returned from Egypt on Nov. 11. The patient first showed symptoms on Nov. 22.
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The video does not copy/paste - Dr. Vankerkhove says it will take a few weeks to fully understand this variant.
Dr @mvankerkhove gives an update on #COVID19 virus variant B.1.1.529, during the #AskWHO session on 25 November 2021
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New COVID Variant, B.1.1.529, could be the most dangerous yet as it spreads to Israel
NOVEMBER 26, 2021
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The strain was first seen in Africa and raised concern with its 32 spike protein mutations, but it has now been reported in Israel.
The person infected had returned from a trip in Malawi.
Two others returning from trips are suspected to be infected with the strain as well.
All three people are currently quarantined. They are all vaccinated individuals as well.
snip
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