WHO warns Asia-Pacific to brace for an outbreak of Omicron-related infections

WhatsAppWhatsAppFacebookFacebookTwitterTwitterPinterestPinterestRedditRedditGmailGmailShareShare

ASEANASEAN ASEAN – Officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) stated on Friday that Asia-Pacific nations should increase their healthcare capacity and completely vaccinate their citizens in order to prepare for a spike in Covid-19 infections caused by the Omicron variant, which has been identified in the region.

Scientists are still collecting data to determine how infectious Omicron is, as well as the severity of the infection it causes, after it was discovered in southern Africa last month and labeled a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization. The virus has already been identified in at least two dozen nations, and it has begun to gather traction in Asia this week, with reports of cases coming from Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and India, among other places. Many nations have reacted by tightening the limits for international travel.

When it comes to preventing future outbreaks, Takeshi Kasai, WHO regional director for the western Pacific, said, “Border restrictions may buy time, but every nation and every community must prepare for new outbreaks.” Kasai said during a virtual media conference.

Related Posts

“In my opinion, people shouldn’t only depend on border controls.” The most essential thing to do is to be prepared for these mutations, which have the potential to be highly transmissible. For the time being, the evidence available indicates that we do not need to adjust our strategy,” Kasai said.

Using the lessons learnt from dealing with the Delta variant, Kasai advised governments to properly vaccinate susceptible individuals and adopt preventative measures, such as mask wearing and social distance restrictions, to keep the virus from spreading.

The Australian government said on Friday that it has discovered community transmission of Omicron, despite travel restrictions for overseas visitors. This comes a day after the virus was discovered locally in five states in the United States.

Katherine S

1/4 German, 3/4 Malaysian. I write, follow and monitor closely political news happening in Malaysia, and other happening news in the ASEAN region. Newswriter for the best ASEAN news website - The Asian Affairs.

Recent Posts

ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: Field is Ready for the Upcoming Scheduled Warm-ups at Diverse Four Venues!

ICC has dropped the crucial update regarding the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 which will commence 30 September 2025. To…

July 15, 2025

J-Pop Icon Aiko Returns With a ‘National Tour’ After 24 Months! What are her Stoppings & Shows?

One of the established and a leading Japanese singer and songwriter, Aiko is known for her blending of modern music…

July 15, 2025

EAFF E-1 2025: China vs Hong Kong! Who will end at the 3rd position?

Today, on 15 July 2025 it is going to be a clash of two equally potent football teams China and…

July 15, 2025

Japan Open 2025: Full Schedule, Indian Players, and Viewing Info

The badminton competition in Japan Open 2025 which is the second event on the BWF World Tour calendar has now…

July 15, 2025

Cal Raleigh Crowned Home Run Derby Champion After Dramatic Night in Atlanta

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh was the 2025 winner of the MLB Home Run Derby on Monday night at Atlanta…

July 15, 2025

Korean Actress Kang Seo Ha Dies at Age 31 After Battling Illness

Kang Seo Ha, a South Korean actress passed away yesterday aged 31 and the South Korean entertainment industry is mourning.…

July 15, 2025