Nations Concerned About New COVID-19 Version 'Omicron' from Africa
2021-11-27
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1A new variant of COVID-19 found in Africa has international health organizations and national leaders again concerned about virus restrictions.
2A group of World Health Organization experts has called the variant "omicron," a letter in the Greek alphabet like "delta."
3Belgium and Israel said travelers who came from Africa recently tested positive for the variant.
4It is not clear whether the new version of the virus causes more severe health problems.
5But nations are trying to prevent its spread.
6The health minister in Belgium called the variant "suspicious."
7Frank Vandenbroucke said:
8"We don't know if it's a very dangerous variant."
9In The Netherlands, an airplane with passengers from Cape Town, South Africa was held on the runway for four hours for extra testing.
10One passenger called the situation "ridiculous."
11Jens Spahn is the German Health Minister.
12He said problems from a new variant are "the last thing we need."
13President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said Europe needs to be careful until more is known about the variant.
14She asked travelers from southern Africa to "respect strict quarantine rules."
15She asked for care to make sure the variant does not spread around the world.
16The traveler who tested positive in Belgium spent over one week in the country before getting a test because of mild signs of infection.
17In Israel, a traveler and two other people were quarantined.
18All the individuals had been vaccinated.
19Health experts say the spread of the variant in Africa shows the problem with unequal availability of vaccines.
20Fewer than six percent of people in Africa have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
21Michael Head is a global health researcher at the University of Southampton in Great Britain.
22He said the new variant coming in Africa results from wealthier nations buying more vaccine than they need.
23He said large countries should do more to send vaccines to smaller countries.
24Investors around the world showed their concern about the new variant.
25Measures of stock prices dropped on Friday in Asia, Europe and the U.S.
26Dr. Michael Ryan is the head of emergencies at the World Health Organization.
27He warned against "knee-jerk responses" to the variant.
28A knee-jerk reaction is one that is done without thought or reason.
29However, Britain banned travel from southern Africa on Friday.
30The United States announced restrictions on visitors from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi.
31Canada and the European Union also have placed restrictions on visitors from southern African countries.
32And Japan announced 10-day quarantines for citizens coming from countries in southern Africa.
33I'm Dan Friedell.
1A new variant of COVID-19 found in Africa has international health organizations and national leaders again concerned about virus restrictions. 2A group of World Health Organization experts has called the variant "omicron," a letter in the Greek alphabet like "delta." 3Belgium and Israel said travelers who came from Africa recently tested positive for the variant. 4It is not clear whether the new version of the virus causes more severe health problems. But nations are trying to prevent its spread. 5The health minister in Belgium called the variant "suspicious." Frank Vandenbroucke said: "We don't know if it's a very dangerous variant." 6In The Netherlands, an airplane with passengers from Cape Town, South Africa was held on the runway for four hours for extra testing. 7One passenger called the situation "ridiculous." 8Jens Spahn is the German Health Minister. He said problems from a new variant are "the last thing we need." 9President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said Europe needs to be careful until more is known about the variant. She asked travelers from southern Africa to "respect strict quarantine rules." She asked for care to make sure the variant does not spread around the world. 10The traveler who tested positive in Belgium spent over one week in the country before getting a test because of mild signs of infection. In Israel, a traveler and two other people were quarantined. All the individuals had been vaccinated. 11Health experts say the spread of the variant in Africa shows the problem with unequal availability of vaccines. Fewer than six percent of people in Africa have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 12Michael Head is a global health researcher at the University of Southampton in Great Britain. He said the new variant coming in Africa results from wealthier nations buying more vaccine than they need. He said large countries should do more to send vaccines to smaller countries. 13Investors around the world showed their concern about the new variant. Measures of stock prices dropped on Friday in Asia, Europe and the U.S. 14Dr. Michael Ryan is the head of emergencies at the World Health Organization. He warned against "knee-jerk responses" to the variant. A knee-jerk reaction is one that is done without thought or reason. 15However, Britain banned travel from southern Africa on Friday. 16The United States announced restrictions on visitors from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi. Canada and the European Union also have placed restrictions on visitors from southern African countries. And Japan announced 10-day quarantines for citizens coming from countries in southern Africa. 17I'm Dan Friedell. 18Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 19What do you think about the reaction to the new variant from Africa? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 20___________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22variant - n. something that is different in some way from others of the same kind 23test positive - adj. to have a test show the presence of a disease, virus or infection 24suspicious - adj. causing a feeling that something is wrong or that someone is behaving wrongly : causing suspicion 25ridiculous - adj. not serious; unreasonable 26strict - adj. describing a rule that must be obeyed or followed 27quarantine - n. the period of time during which a person or animal that has a disease or that might have a disease is kept away from others to prevent the disease from spreading 28mild -adj. not strongly felt