New Delhi: More countries, including the US and the UK, have started enforcing a number of travel restrictions on foreigners in the context of the reporting of a large number of Omicron cases worldwide.
The United States has stipulated that those coming from countries such as India should produce either RT-PCR negative test certificate received one day prior to the journey or a document proving recovery from disease within the last three months. The US is seeking a negative certificate received by the visitor one day prior to the trip.
Eight Omicron cases have been confirmed in New York. Omicron cases have also been reported from the States of Washington, New Jersey, Georgia and Massachusetts.
The UK has decided to make it mandatory to produce the RT-PCR negative test certificate taken within 48 hours before the trip. The UK has also included Nigeria in the list of countries for which the travel ban is in force.
The Australian Government has given permission for administering Pfizer vaccine among children in the age group of 5 to 11 years. The administration of vaccines for children may begin from January 10.
The New Year programmes in the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil have been cancelled. In the Netherlands, people are continuing their protest over the COVID-related restrictions imposed by the government.
Meanwhile, amidst anxieties about the spread of Omicron, Christmas celebrations have begun in Bethlehem. A huge well-litten Christmas tree was erected at the church situated at the birthplace of Christ. During last Christmas, the place was empty due to COVID restrictions. But this time, more visitors are expected to visit the holy place.
In another development, South Africa is currently in search of an appropriate vaccine for COVID for administering it on children. Though many children below the age of 12 years are infected with Omicron in the country, the authorities say that there is no cause of worry as the new variant is found less intense among children.
No vaccine has been officially registered in South Africa for those who are below 12 years of age.
