Coronavirus live updates: Karnataka says sample of SA returnee 'different from Delta'

Indonesia will not allow people who have been in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini or Nigeria in the past 14 days. The restriction will come into effect on Monday. ​

"Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor. ...Secretary Blinken specifically praised South Africa's scientists for the quick identification of the Omicron variant and South Africa's government for its transparency in sharing this information, which should serve as a model for the world," US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said on Saturday.

The Tunisian Ministry of Health announced on Saturday new measures for arrivals from abroad to prevent the spread of the new variant of Covid-19 Omicron in the country. All arrivals must present a certificate of completion of the vaccination or a vaccination pass. This decision involves all non-resident passengers over the age of 18, said a ministry statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said there is a need to be proactive in the light of the new SARS-CoV-2 “variant of concern” Omicron and directed officials to review plans for easing of international travel restrictions in the wake of reports related to the new mutations of the virus.

The British scientist who led the research underpinning AstraZeneca’s coronavirus jab said on Saturday a new vaccine could be developed against the emerging Omicron variant “very rapidly” if needed. Professor Andrew Pollard, the director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, also said existing vaccines should work against the new strain, but that would only become apparent after more research in the coming weeks. “It’s extremely unlikely that a reboot of a pandemic in a vaccinated population like we saw last year (with the Delta variant) is going to happen,” he told BBC radio. But if required, “The processes of how one goes about developing a new vaccine are increasingly well-oiled, so if it's needed that is something that could be moved very rapidly.” In a statement, AstraZeneca said it had “developed, in close collaboration with Oxford University, a vaccine platform that enables us to respond quickly to new variants that may emerge”. The UK-based drugs firm said it was “already conducting research in locations where the variant has been identified”. Vaccine makers Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax have also said they are confident of being able to combat the Omicron strain. (AFP)