Taiwan, Taipei (AP) —Much of Asia has managed to keep Omicron away, even when variants are rampant in other parts of the world, but in areas where most of the world’s population lives. , Be prepared for things that may be unavoidable. undulation.
Strict quarantine rules for arrival and widespread wearing of masks have helped delay the spread of highly contagious variants in Asia. Countries such as Japan, South Korea and Thailand have quickly reinstated immigration and quarantine restrictions in the last few weeks after easing in the fall.
However, the number of cases continues to grow, and experts say the next few months will be important. These concerns are amplified by questions about the effectiveness of Chinese vaccines used in many of China and developing countries.
“If the pace goes up, the surge will be very fast,” said Dr. Shigeru Omi, the Government’s chief medical adviser.
In India, which has returned to normal after the catastrophic COVID-19 outbreak earlier this year, Omicron is once again causing fear, with more than 700 cases reported in approximately 1.4 billion people in the country.
The capital, New Delhi, has banned large Christmas and New Year rallies, and many other states have announced new restrictions, such as curfew and vaccination requirements at stores and restaurants.
At the crowded Chandni Chowk Market in New Delhi, many people were shopping without masks this week. Cycle rickshaw driver Mahesh Kumar said he was afraid of passengers who did not believe in the virus.
“They think it doesn’t exist, but I’m very scared. I have kids and a family,” he said. “Who will take care of them if something happens to me?”
Australia has already dealt with multiple COVID-19 surges, state leaders said Wednesday that “Omicron is moving too fast.” Elsewhere, Thailand has more than 700, South Korea has more than 500, and Japan has more than 300. China, which has some of the world’s toughest antivirus measures, has reported at least eight cases.
In the Philippines, only four cases have been reported in which people gathered in a shopping center before Christmas and gathered in Mass, the largest Roman Catholic state in Asia. Some hospitals have begun to dismantle the COVID-19 ward, and experts say it may turn out to be premature.
Japan disseminates new variants thanks to the re-enforcement of immigration restrictions, compulsory COVID-19 testing for all arrivals, and isolation of all passengers in flight if the Omicron test is positive. Was able to be delayed by about a month.
However, the barrier was breached last week when the first cases of local infection were identified in neighboring cities of Osaka and Kyoto. Experts are urging the government to prepare for the impending wave of infection by increasing tests, speeding up booster shots, and preparing more beds in hospitals.
“I would like to believe that Omicron cases can be mild, but the fast-paced infections can rapidly increase the number of patients and still overwhelm the hospital,” Omi said.
Taiwan, where face mask wear is almost universal in major cities, has begun offering booster shots of the Moderna vaccine, taking a third shot before the expected influx of people returning to Lunar New Year at the end of January. I urge people to do it.
Preliminary research shows that booster shots of Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Moderna vaccines have been reduced, but continue to defend against Omicron.
However, according to a university news release, a previously unpublished study at the University of Hong Kong found that the widely used Sinovac vaccine in China does not produce enough antibodies to protect against Omicron, even with booster shots. I found out. Hong Kong offers both Sinovac and Pfizer vaccines.
Sinovac did not respond to the request for comment. Chinese officials say their vaccine is still effective.
“Our inactivated vaccines are still fairly reliable and cover a variety of antigens, so they are not completely ineffective against Omicron,” said Zhong Nanshan, the government’s chief physician. Said in a public forum.
Some countries that have relied on Chinese vaccines rely on other countries for boosters.
Thailand, which was primarily using the other Chinese vaccines Sinovac and Sinopharm, offers booster shots of AstraZeneca or Pfizer. Indonesia, which is at the heart of Sinovac’s campaign to vaccinate 270 million residents, is offering Moderna boosters to healthcare professionals. The government has also not announced any vaccines, but plans to boost immunity for the general population in January.
China’s attitude towards the virus, whether Omicron or not, is to stop the transmission by that route, and the approach of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February seems to make the country even more severe.
Authorities closed 13 million cities and administrative districts of Xi’An last week in an outbreak of Delta that infected hundreds of people. On Monday, they ordered everyone to stay home until another city-wide test was completed.
Residents complained on social media about the sudden ban. Many relied on instant noodles and other packaged foods. Some were worried about how to get enough food, especially fresh vegetables, in the next few days.
China, depending on the state, quarantines people arriving from abroad for several weeks. The most common is 3 weeks.
How China’s zero COVID-19 policy works at the Olympics is a big issue. Athletes and visitors cannot leave the Olympic Zone and attendees such as officers, journalists and venue staff are tested daily.
To contain the deadly Delta-led surgeon South Korea, the government has set a four-person limit on personal gatherings this month and put a curfew on restaurants at 9 pm to revive the strictest distance rules. I did.
Health experts predict that it’s only a matter of time before Omicron arrives.
“Omicron has a very high infection rate, so it is clear that at some point it will be the predominant variant in South Korea,” said Jehun Jung, a professor at Gachon University School of Medicine in South Korea.
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AP Communications Staff, Busaba Shivason Boon in Bangkok, Thailand, Jim Gomez in the Philippines, Edna Taligan in Jakarta, Indonesia, Kurtica Patty and Richab Jain in New Delhi, Kim Hyun Jin in Seoul, South Korea, Yamaguchi in Tokyo Truth, Olivia Beijing Zhang contributed to this report.
Asia keeps Omicron away, but surges may be inevitable | WGN Radio 720
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