Much public health and infectious disease specialists anticipate that as the year comes to a close, monitoring for new coronavirus variants will play a bigger role in COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Some of these experts are already focusing on an increase in cases in China.
COVID-19 New Variants In 2023
The Omicron coronavirus variant continues to spread throughout the world, and according to microbiologist and immunologist Andrew Pekosz of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, we’re seeing Omicron do what viruses do, which is it picks up mutations along the way that helps it evade a little bit of immunity that’s induced by previous infection or vaccination.
According to information from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Omicron subvariants XBB.1.5, BQ.1.1, BQ.1, BA.5, and XBB are responsible for practically all Covid-19 infections in the US.
The CDC predicts that during this week, XBB.1.5 is currently responsible for 40.5% of cases in the US, followed by BQ.1.1 (26.4%), BQ.1, (18.3%), BA.5, and XBB (3.6%).
Prior to traveling to the US, visitors from China will need to present a negative COVID-19 test result, according to a statement made by US health officials on Wednesday. Travelers from China to the US must get tested no more than two days prior to takeoff, and they must show their airline documentation of a negative test result before boarding.
Read more: Nasal COVID-19 Vaccine: How effective it is compared to injectable immunization?
China Faces Travel Restrictions
As concern over China’s growth in COVID-19 cases grows, more than a dozen countries have imposed travel restrictions on Chinese nationals; Australia is the latest to do so.
The travel restriction, which will go into force on January 5, was justified by Beijing’s lack of full information concerning COVID-19 instances, according to Australia’s health minister on Sunday. According to him, the action will protect Australia from the risk of potentially new developing varieties.
In recent times, China-bound tourists have also been subject to testing upon arrival or a negative COVID-19 test requirement in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
In support of its lack of a test demand, Canada noted the scant epidemiological and viral genomic sequence evidence available on recent COVID-19 cases in China.
Morocco took action on Saturday to impose an import ban on all travelers from China in an effort to prevent a new wave of infection in Morocco and all its implications.
The flurry of international travel restrictions started as nations prepared for an increase in Chinese tourists after Beijing announced the end of the required quarantine for incoming travelers on January 8.
Read more: Gut Health: Bacteria and microbes essential to healthier and happier feelings
