Biden, European leaders tackle Omicron ahead of Christmas

Agency Reports

Ahead of Christmas, countries across Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand considered new curbs on movement on Tuesday as the Omicron variant sweeps the world.

In the United States, President Joe Biden appealed to all Americans to get vaccinated.

Omicron infections are multiplying across Europe, the United States and Asia, including in Japan, where a single cluster of COVID-19 cases at a military base has grown to at least 180.

“If you’re not fully vaccinated, you have good reason to be concerned,” Biden said at the White House, where he unveiled plans to buy 500 million rapid COVID-19 tests to be distributed for free to Americans who request them starting in January.

Striking a dire tone about the risks to the one in four American adults still unvaccinated, he said: “Your choice can be the difference between life and death.” read more

Biden also activated some 1,000 military medical personnel to support hospitals already being overwhelmed.

“Starting this week, the federal government will set up emergency testing sites in areas that need additional testing capacity.

“Before Christmas, the first several of these federal testing sites will be up and running in New York City — with many more to come’, Biden said.

Omicron now accounts for 73% of all new cases in the United States, up from less than 1% at the beginning of the month.

Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization’s European head, told a news conference in Vienna that within weeks Omicron would dominate in more countries of the region, “pushing already stretched health systems further to the brink.”

“We can see another storm coming,” Kluge said.

Germany, Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands and South Korea are among countries to have reimposed partial or full lockdowns or other social distancing measures in recent days. read more

Portugal ordered nightclubs and bars to close and told people to work from home for at least two weeks from Saturday.

Nicola Sturgeon, first minister of Scotland – part of the United Kingdom but with devolved responsibilities for health – set out plans for further restrictions on big public events, including sports fixtures, for three weeks after Christmas.

“It will also mean unfortunately that large scale Hogmanay celebrations, including that planned here in our capital city (Edinburgh), will not proceed,” she said, referring to traditional Scottish New Year parties.

New Zealand COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said his country, which imposed some of the world’s toughest COVID-19 measures, was delaying the start of a staggered reopening of its border until the end of February.

“All of the evidence so far points to Omicron being the most transmissible COVID-19 variant yet,” he said.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany will introduce new steps including limiting private gatherings for vaccinated people to a maximum of 10 before New Year’s Eve.

Scholz agreed with the premiers of the 16 federal states that big events, including football matches, would be without spectators.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would not introduce new COVID-19 curbs in England before Christmas, but the situation remained extremely difficult and the government might need to act afterwards.