It is not yet clear whether the new variant will cause a new global wave of infections. Experts say current vaccines still provide protection against severe symptoms, hospitalizations and death.
The European Union’s aviation safety agency and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control on Tuesday issued recommendations for flights between China and the European Union, including: "Non-drug measures to limit the spread of the virus, such as wearing a mask and testing travelers, as well as monitoring wastewater as an early warning tool to detect new variants".
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WHO officials said in a press briefing that a small but increasing number of infections with the XBB1.5 variant had been detected in Europe.
Catherine Smallwood, chief emergency officer for the World Health Organization in Europe, said that passengers should be advised to wear masks in high-risk places such as long flights, adding that “this should be a recommendation for passengers coming from anywhere where Covid-19 disease is widespread.” “.
Health officials said the XBB1.5 variant, the most infectious variant of the Omicron strain, accounted for 27.6 percent of infections in the United States in the week ending Jan. 7.
It is not yet clear whether the new variant will cause a new global wave of infections. Experts say current vaccines still provide protection against severe symptoms, hospitalizations and death.
On Tuesday, the European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control issued recommendations for flights between China and the European Union, including “non-drug measures to limit the spread of the virus, such as wearing a mask and testing travelers, as well as monitoring wastewater as an early warning tool to detect new variants.” “.