Here is the COVID-19 summary for Tuesday.
Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Tuesday
In Canada, 2 more provinces, British Columbia and Alberta have detected the omicron variant in travellers from Nigeria. This takes the total number of cases in Canada up to 7.
Alberta and B.C. have detected their first cases of the omicron variant, bringing the number of provinces that have reported the presence of the new coronavirus variant to four, after Ontario and Quebec.
South Africa are not happy about the travel bans.
"We are also insisting that these bans must be removed, they must be lifted," the president said of bans on travellers from several southern African nations. "Because you do not try and contain a virus through imposing bans unscientifically and indiscriminately."
The Netherlands said they detected the omicron variant in samples from several days before South Africa reported the new variant to the WHO, with some as early as the 19th of November. These samples are from before the passengers who arrived in the Netherlands from South Africa on Friday.
In Europe, the omicron variant was already in the Netherlands when South Africa alerted WHO about it last week, Dutch health authorities said Tuesday, adding to fear and confusion over the new version of the coronavirus in a weary world hoping it had left the worst of the pandemic behind. The Netherlands' RIVM health institute found omicron in samples dating from Nov. 19 and 23. WHO said South Africa first reported the variant to the UN health agency on Nov. 24.
The Dutch announcement Tuesday further muddies the timeline on when the new variant actually emerged. Previously, the Dutch had said they found the variant among passengers who came from South Africa on Friday — but these new cases predate that.
France has found a case of omicron on the island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean.
France recorded its first omicron case on Tuesday, in the island territory of Reunion in the Indian Ocean. The patient was identified as a man who had returned to Reunion from South Africa and Mozambique on Nov. 20, before WHO learned of the variant.
The UK have found 22 cases of omicron so far. They announced tightening of pandemic measures and travel.
In the U.K. where the government says 22 cases have been identified so far, new measures to combat the omicron variant of coronavirus took effect in England on Tuesday, with face coverings again compulsory in shops and on public transportation.
Infection rates have fallen slightly in Germany and Austria and have stabilized in the Netherlands. Austria are in lockdown, and Germany and the Netherlands have tightened restrictions.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 incidence rate has dropped slightly in Germany and Austria and stabilized in the Netherlands since the three countries introduced new measures to curb the spread of the virus, new data showed. After becoming hot spots in a new wave of infections in western Europe, Austria went into a fourth full lockdown last week and the Netherlands and Germany imposed new restrictions.
Japan reported their first case of omicron in a diplomat arriving from Namibia.
In the Asia-Pacific region, Japan reported its first case of the omicron variant on Tuesday — in a Namibian diplomat who had recently arrived from his country — the same day that a ban on all foreign visitors started.
Hong Kong have expanded their ban on arrivals from several countries.
Hong Kong expanded a ban on entry for non-residents from several countries as global health authorities raced to curb a potential outbreak of the omicron virus,
Australia are reviewing containment measures.
while Australia is set to review containment steps after five people tested positive.
Cambodia have banned arrivals from 10 countries in Africa due to omicron.
Cambodia barred entry to travellers from 10 African countries, citing the threat from the variant. The move came just two weeks after Cambodia reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travellers.
Ecuador will ban arrivals from a number of countries in Africa, and will require vaccination certificates from everyone else.
Ecuador will impose entry curbs on travellers flying from or via a number of African countries and will request vaccine certificates from those arriving from other countries due to the new omicron variant, President Guillermo Lasso said on Monday.
US health authorities voted 13 to 10 to approve the new Merck COVID-19 treatment (this is for people who are ill, not a vaccine). This is not exactly a ringing endorsement. There are apparently concerns about the pill causing birth defects and the like. The recommendation is apparently only to give the pill to people who need it badly.
In the Americas, a panel of U.S. health advisers on Tuesday narrowly backed a closely watched COVID-19 pill from Merck, setting the stage for a likely authorization of the first drug that Americans could take at home to treat the coronavirus.
The Food and Drug Administration panel voted 13-10 that the antiviral drug's benefits outweigh its risks, including potential birth defects if used during pregnancy.
"I see this as an incredibly difficult decision with many more questions than answers," said panel chair Dr. Lindsey Baden of Harvard Medical School, who voted in favour of the drug. He said FDA would have to carefully tailor the drug's use for patients who stand to benefit most.
Canada will now require post-arrival tests from all air travellers other than the US, including people who are vaccinated. Arrivals will have to self-isolate until they have received a negative result. Canada also added Nigeria, Malawi, and Egypt to the list of countries on an arrivals ban.
Ottawa requiring COVID-19 testing for some travellers, consulting experts on booster shots
Incoming air travellers from all countries except the United States will be required to take COVID-19 tests when arriving in Canada, the federal government announced today.
The tests will be required of all travellers, regardless of their vaccination status, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said today. The requirement will also apply to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Incoming travellers will have to self-isolate until they receive results of the test.
A health expert in Canada stated that it would be very unusual for a new virus variant to simply negate immunity from vaccines. More likely is that existing vaccine efficacy will be reduced a bit.
While conceding he's just speculating as laboratory studies continue, Bogoch said he thinks available vaccines will still prove useful in the fight against COVID-19.
"It would be extremely unusual for a variant to emerge that completely erases the protective immunity of vaccines," he said. "It might chip away at some of the effectiveness but it would be extremely unusual that our vaccines, and or vaccine programs, are now rendered useless."
Also in Canada, as of today (Tuesday), unvaccinated people over the age of 12 are banned from planes and trains. This policy was announced a while ago, but a delay was provided to allow people who are affected to get vaccinated. Negative tests will no longer be accepted as a vaccination substitute. Several airlines have already announced they will be checking all passengers for vaccination certificates.
Unvaccinated travellers over the age of 12 barred from planes and trains as of today
Unvaccinated travellers over the age of 12 won't be able to board a plane or passenger train in Canada beginning today, and a negative COVID-19 test will no longer serve as a substitute for most people.
The policy came into effect on Oct. 30, but the federal government allowed a short transition period for unvaccinated travellers who could board as long as they provided a negative molecular COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before their trip.