Brunei has imposed a travel ban on eight African countries due to fears of the Omicron variety

[ASEAN NOW Content Team]

 

Unvaccinated workers can return to work on December 1 if they pass antigen testing every two days, according to the government.

As a preventive move against the new COVID form dubbed Omicron, Brunei has joined other countries around the world in imposing travel prohibitions on eight southern African countries.

Travelers from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe are now forbidden from entering the nation, according to the home affairs minister, a day after the World Health Organization (WHO) named the Omicron a "variant of concern."

 

Individuals who have gained prior authorisation for admission into Brunei from the eight countries are also subject to the limitations, according to YB Pehin Dato Hj Awg Abu Bakar Hj Apong of COVID.

Due to its enormous number of mutations – double that of the prevalent Delta version – Omicron, which was discovered in South Africa earlier this month, has raised worries about enhanced transmissibility and immune evasion.

The travel ban attempts to prevent the Omicron strain from reaching Brunei's shores, according to Health Minister YB Dato Dr Hj Mohd Isham Hj Jaafar, who noted that Brunei does not receive many tourists from African countries.

The sultanate has yet to reopen its borders to non-essential travellers, but it had planned to do so once the disease reached endemic status.

 

When asked if Omicron will have an impact on Brunei's plans to transition from pandemic to endemic COVID, the health minister stated the government would have to investigate the numerous circumstances that could affect the country's shift.

According to him, one component is determining if the country has the ability to detect and diagnose the Omicron variant.

Despite getting a DNA sequencing machine from a Beijing-based equity business in August, Brunei has yet to begin genomic monitoring to uncover COVID mutations in the country.

Officials from the Department of Health earlier stated that lab staff would need to be trained to use the machine.

 

Medical experts will examine the Omicron variant's incubation period to evaluate its transmission rate, according to the ministry.

"We must examine how long it will take for an infected person to [transfer the virus] to another person, as well as if the infection can produce severe symptoms."
What matters most is how it affects immunisation.

"Even if only one of these characteristics is present, it can have an impact on our progress toward endemic status," he noted.

The fact that WHO has classified Omicron as a variation of concern, according to YB Dato Dr Hj Mohd Isham, means it is "very serious."

 

When new evidence emerges indicating a variant is more infectious, produces severe disease, or is immune to vaccine protection, it is labelled as "of concern."

Early evidence suggests Omicron has a higher risk of reinfection than other strains, according to the WHO, but it will take weeks to fully grasp the variant's impact.

The novel variation has been discovered in Botswana, Israel, Hong Kong, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, in addition to South Africa.

Omicron's development exposes low vaccination rates in African countries, which researchers attribute to wealthy countries hoarding vaccines, increasing the risk of a more severe variety spreading over the world.

 

Due to a lack of vaccine supplies, only 6% of persons in Africa are fully vaccinated against COVID.

In October, however, over 70% of high-income countries had already vaccinated more than 40% of their population.

Since the COVID vaccine programme began seven months ago, Brunei has fully immunise 79.6 percent of its population.

 

Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view

Edited November 29, 2021 by ASEAN NOW Content Team