Railroads in Europe were also affected, albeit not to the same extent. Methods: Similar cuts to isolation have followed in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Spain and Sweden report their first cases, the latter from a sample taken less than a week prior from a traveler from South Africa. This article is made freely available for personal use in accordance with BMJ's website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. But the good news is it's a much milder illness than past Covid infections, as long as you've had your booster dose. [15][16][17] At this point there are 96 confirmed cases worldwide in South Africa, Botswana,[18] England,[19] Hong Kong,[20] Italy,[21] Israel,[22] and Belgium,[23] and 2 probable cases in Germany[24] and 1 in Czech Republic. COVID-19; PCR; SARS CoV-2; Shedding; Viral culture. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted Cureus. Malaysia has confirmed 11 new cases of the Omicron variant, all resulting from overseas travel. [175], US reported its peak number of infections by Omicron variant, US Presidential Chief Advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci predicted that the Omicron cases would drop by the end of January. However, whether the duration of shedding of viable virus differs between omicron and previous variants is not well understood. The U.S. also tightens its restrictions. When boarding a plane and entering Switzerland, all persons travelling from the UK must present a negative COVID-19 test and quarantine for 10 days. 12 deaths cumulative of Omicron cases in the UK. Duration of infectious virus shedding by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant-infected vaccinees. A third case is detected in the UK, but the individual concerned, who had traveled from southern Africa, is no longer in the country, instigating high-level contact tracing. [164], US COVID-19 cases reach 1,082,549, mainly due to the rapidity of Omicron's spread. analyse site usage and support us in providing free open access scientific content. CDC revises its Omicron estimate from comprising 73% to 59% of all Covid cases in the U.S. Thailand identifies its first superspreader event. [77] More than a dozen cases have been found in the U.S. spread over at least ten states. [117], New Zealand has reported three more Omicron cases at the border. Nevertheless, the duration of isolation for mild cases was shortened to 5 to 7 days. [78], Eight cases of community transmission, unrelated to each other, are reported in New York. eCollection 2022 Dec. Front Public Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were obtained consecutively on days 5, 7,10, and 14 of onset of symptoms. [161], The UKHSA announced that as of 1 January 2022, Omicron would no longer be reported separately in the daily statistics because the variant of concern had become the dominant strain in England. [29], Two Danish returnees from South Africa test positive,[30] and another two people with recent travel in Nigeria test positive in Ottawa, Canada. The latest results could mean that "the virus establishes a very local infection in the upper airways and has less chance to go and wreak havoc in the lungs", which might make it easier "to hitch a ride on material expelled from the nose and mouth, allowing the virus to find new hosts". A more recent preprint from Japan (a study that is yet to be published in a scientific journal) looked at viral shedding attributed to omicron. Japan. [174], Algeria detects 82 new cases; 61 cases from Algiers, 11 cases from Blida, 5 cases in Boura, 3 cases from Hassi Messaoud and 1 case in Ain Defla and Laghouat, bringing the total of confirmed cases to 145 cases. Association between immunity and viral shedding duration in non-severe SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant-infected patients. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e59. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.03923-22. [66] Iceland also reports its first case, a triply-vaccinated individual who had not traveled abroad;[67] Greece announces its first case (in Crete), an individual who had traveled to South Africa. PMID: 35027360 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.o89 No abstract available . Epub 2022 Nov 8. - WSJ Podcasts", "Palestinians detect first 3 cases of omicron in West Bank", "Covid-19: Three more Omicron cases reported in MIQ", "Biden warns of 'winter of severe illness and death' for those unvaccinated against Covid", "Omicron spreading rapidly in U.S., infections could peak in January, CDC warns", "Omicron Variant's Rapid Spread Triggers New Precautions", "Covid live: UK reports 93,045 new cases; pubs and restaurants in Ireland reportedly set to get 8pm curfew", "Covid-19: Qatar reports its first four Omicron cases", "WHO says Omicron in 89 countries and spreading rapidly", "Covid live: Omicron spreads significantly faster than Delta, says WHO; experts call for stricter restrictions in England 'very soon', "Cases of COVID-19 Omicron variant climb to 134 in Israel", "Dr Noor Hisham: 11 more Omicron variant cases detected", "Covid-19 update: 39 community cases in New Zealand today, 4 new cases of Omicron", "The Omicron variant has spread rapidly across the capital. And a small study from the University of Exeter, published on the same day as Javids announcement, found that one in three people are still potentially infectious after five days. The new rules mean if you are sick with Covid you have to stay inside for seven days. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. 2023 Feb;29(2):133-134. doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2022.11.019. Sangeeta Paul is a researcher and medical writer based in Gurugram, India. Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 83 respiratory specimens from 21 cases using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and virus isolation tests revealed that the amount of viral RNA was highest three to six days after diagnosis or symptom onset, and then gradually decreased. Lee E, Park S, Choi JP, Kim MK, Yang E, Ham SY, Lee S, Lee B, Yang JS, Park BK, Kim DS, Lee SY, Lee JY, Jang HC, Jeon J, Park SW. J Korean Med Sci. OMICRON has swept through the UK, with most people now knowing someone who has tested positive - if not themselves. doi: 10.7759/cureus.32523. (2022, March 18). It's thought there are five stages of Omicron, all of which we have outlined for you. [150] The first cases are identified in Gaza Strip and Dominican Republic. A similar trend was seen for positive virus detected in respiratory samples, with no infectious virus detected in samples after 10 days since diagnosis or symptom onset. "Duration of Omicron variant shedding isolated from upper respiratory samples collected from the reported case-patients in Japan". [65] This is the first case in mainland France. The infectious virus was detected before the patients were symptomatic to nine days after symptoms onset but was not detected beyond ten days of symptoms onset. However, the association between virus shedding duration and the infectivity of the Omicron variant is unknown. eCollection 2022. The second is its capacity to evade human . Comparison of Nasopharyngeal and Saliva Swab Nucleic Acid Amplification and Rapid Antigen Testing To Detect Omicron SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern: a Prospective Clinical Trial (OMICRON). [101] Dutch government warns there will likely be more. In February 2022, the first confirmed case infecting a wild animal was confirmed by researchers at Pennsylvania State University in white-tailed deer in Staten Island, N.Y.[188], The BA.2 subvariant accounts for more than a third of all cases globally. Wu Y, Guo Z, Yuan J, Cao G, Wang Y, Gao P, Liu J, Liu M. Int J Infect Dis. Epub 2020 Oct 6. Understanding the Role of Epigenetics in Cancer, Understanding Chronic Cough: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis, Circumcised vs. Uncircumcised; Differences in the Penile Microbiome, Obesity management: a women's health approach, AI analysis software for Zebrafish you must know, Excessive digital technology use is associated with reduced sleep quality regardless of environmental and genetic factors, study finds, Activating well-being goals in grocery stores: innovative strategies for encouraging healthy food purchases. The mutation profile gives us concern, but now we need to do the work to understand the significance of this variant and what it means for the response to the pandemic." Maryland has its first three cases, and Pennsylvania and Missouri one each. Estimates for this exposure-to-symptom gap, called the incubation period, clocked in at about five days for Alpha and four days for Delta. In total, 55 non-severe patients with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant were included. Puerto Rico confirms its first case,[102] as does Pakistan. We observed an association between the dominant variant in cats and the timeline of variant emergence in the human population. China's leader Xi Jinping pledges 30m doses of its own vaccine to Africa by way of addressing global vaccine inequity, with 400m to follow (produced by Chinese-owned companies in Africa). Here's How We Know", "Covid-19: dtection d'un premier cas du variant Omicron en Algrie", "Omicron spread in Israel may be wider than thought report", "Mainland reports 2 Omicron cases as supply chain threatened - People's Daily Online", "Omicron variant identified in 89 countries; has doubling time between 1.5-3 days in high community transmission areas: WHO", "First Omicron case detected in New Zealand", "Pasien Pertama Omicron di RI Kini Sudah Negatif, Begini Kronologinya", "Covid live: Italy reports highest daily cases since March; Canada's Omicron cases 'could overwhelm Ontario ICUs', "Omicron found in nearly all of Florida county's wastewater samples", "Dr. Anthony Fauci on Omicron and the Covid-19 Stalemate - the Journal. [85], Queensland, Australia health authorities detect the first case of the variant in the state, alongside the first identification ever of a genetically distinct 'Omicron-like' variant. [149], Omicron is in at least 115 countries. If you test negative on lateral flows 24 hours apart on day six and seven you can then leave home. Patients who have been vaccinated twice were no longer required two successive COVID-19-negative test results after ten days of the diagnosis of COVID-19 or onset of symptoms. Infectious virus shedding was detected in 30% of patients up to two days after the resolution of symptoms, but no virus shedding was detected beyond three days of symptoms resolution. [168] Britain deploys 200 military personnel to assist London hospitals, including 20 doctors. SARS-CoV-2 culture positivity and its relationship with the presence of the symptom. Abstract. [173] In the U.S. 98% of COVID-19 cases the week prior were of the Omicron variant. Stage two is around two or three days with no symptoms presenting yet. South African scientists begin seeing samples where PCR tests have S-gene target failure (which occurs in a few variants, but not in Delta which had by far dominated in the country in October), alerting them to a change in epidemiology. Here's a look at number of cases reported acr", "Covid live: US reports highest seven-day cases average since January; UK 'considering door-to-door vaccinations', "England hospital Covid admissions highest since February; France announces new curbs as it happened", "CDC drastically drops estimate of US Omicron cases", "Covid news live: France accelerates introduction of vaccine passes; Europe cases at record highs", "New Zealand reports first community exposure to Omicron", "Covid-19: Omicron border case active in the community is DJ Dimension", "Coronavirus: 12 nouveaux cas du variant Omicron dtects en Algrie", "The second case with Omicron is registered in Northern Macedonia | txtreport.com", "Omicron Pushes Short-Staffed Urgent Care Centers to the Brink", "US to lift Omicron travel ban on eight African countries", "Covid-19: WHO chief optimistic disease will be beaten in 2022", "Omicron daily overview: 31 December 2021", "S.Korea reports first deaths linked to Omicron coronavirus variant - Yonhap", "Italy reports record 170,844 cases and 259 deaths; fourth jab gives five-fold antibody boost, study says as it happened", "U.S. reports over 1 million new daily Covid cases as omicron surges", "Omicron's feeble attack on the lungs could make it less dangerous", "Covid-19: India records first death linked to Omicron variant", "Covid: Deadly Omicron should not be called mild, warns WHO", "Military deployed at London hospitals due to Omicron staff shortages", "Covid-19: 47 nouveaux cas du variant Omicron dtects en Algrie", "Covid live news: UK minister says cutting self-isolation would be 'helpful'; Philippines sets new daily case record", "Peru reports highest-ever weekly COVID-19 case count as Omicron spreads", "Covid: Half of Europe to be infected with Omicron within weeks - WHO", "Will Record Omicron Cases Cause a Surge in the Severely Ill? Research published in April 2022 in The Lancet also found that . In one recent study, researchers found that people with Omicron infections were less likely to be hospitalized, end up in the I.C.U. University of East London provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK. FOIA A more recent preprint from Japan (a study that is yet to be published in a scientific journal) looked at viral shedding attributed to omicron. [170], Mass testing begins in Tianjin, China, a major port city close to Beijing, after a cluster of twenty cases is discovered, of which at least two are of the Omicron variant. [35][36] Five additional cases among these passengers were confirmed a week later. sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal In this episode of omg OMx, Bruker's science-driven podcast, Kate Stumpo interviews Daniel Hornburg, the VP of Proteomics at Seer, as they discuss the innovative technologies in plasma proteomics. Furthermore, please note that some events may only be fully understood and/or discovered in retrospect. Whether changes in duration of infection are a result of variant characteristics or the public's vaccination status is unclear. [50] The first six cases are identified in Scotland (bringing the total in the UK to nine): four in the Lanarkshire area and two in Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. 2022 Jan 13;376:o89. [10], The variation first comes to public notice[11] at a virtual press conference called by the Health Department of South Africa. We prospectively included newly diagnosed nonsevere, symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 positive HCWs. [69], Singapore preliminarily reports its first two cases. Clin Microbiol Infect. Author Ingrid Torjesen 1 Affiliation 1 The BMJ. We aimed to detect the duration of viral shedding among healthcare workers (HCWs) with Omicron by using viral culture. Unable to load your collection due to an error, Unable to load your delegates due to an error. [146] In the aggregate more than 4,500 flights worldwide are cancelled. Before between patient and physician/doctor and the medical advice they may provide. [183], France reach 464,000 new Covid-19 cases with the Omicron variant rampant unabated, the country registered seven consecutive days surpassing daily 300,000 cases. Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! PMC [118], In the U.S. modeling by the CDC presented to state health leaders projects that Omicron will peak in January 2022, the case load having increased seven-fold in one week. From nanoparticle-based enrichment to mass spec refinements, they explore how these tools facilitate unbiased, deep, and rapid proteomics. The extensive mutations of its spike proteins make for the Omicron variant. A new study conducted by Japanese researchers has shown that peak viral loads in people infected with omicron occur between 3 to 6 days after the onset of symptoms. The evidence suggests that at day five many people will still be shedding viable virus, potentially resulting in considerable onward COVID spread. Stage four is the test taking - which, if you've had these symptoms is quite likely to come back positive. [72][73][74], Malaysia announced its first case of the variant. The Sun'sJabs Armycampaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits' arms to ward off the need for any new restrictions. [165], A news article on Nature reports there are signals that Omicron does not multiply readily in lung tissue. Saade C, Brengel-Pesce K, Gaymard A, Trabaud MA, Destras G, Oriol G, Cheynet V, Debombourg M, Mokdad B, Billaud G, Oblette A, Crhalet H, Giannoli JM, Garrigou C, Generenaz L, Compagnon C, Boibieux A, Lina B, Morfin F, Pozzetto B, Josset L, Touillet-Assant S, Bal A. Emerg Microbes Infect. Stage three is when early symptoms start to pop up, like lower back ache, night sweats and a scratchy throat. We aimed to detect the duration of viral shedding among healthcare workers (HCWs) with Omicron by using viral culture. [124], Qatar reports its first four cases, imported from abroad. [86], WHO announces that the variant had been detected in 57 countries. [113] The antibody treatment Evusheld produced by AstraZeneca is shown to retain neutralising activity against Omicron, whereas Regeneron's Ronapreve therapy proves to be less effective. [90] Cuba reports its first case, in a person who had traveled from Mozambique. One is its innate contagiousness, or transmissibility. [171], Peru register the highest rate of Covid-19 infections with 70,000 cases in a week, with Omicron variant being responsible for the third wave of infections. Generally people are feeling like they have a bad cold with Omicron, and tend to bounce back within the seven days of isolation, although may be feeling tired for a week to follow. WHO has named it Omicron, in line with naming protocols t.co/bSbVas9yds t.co/Gev1zIt1Ek", "Coronavirus latest news: EU suspends all flights to southern Africa over omicron Covid variant fears", "We have been made aware by @UKHSA of two UK cases of the Omicron variant. The samples were examined by nucleic acid amplification test and viral culture. The variant is now in 89 counties, and its severity profile remains unknown. [42] He called for nations who closed borders to reopen then cited that the closure is not informed by science, nor will it be effective in preventing the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant. The State of Palestine reported its first three cases, in returnees from abroad. People want to feel safe when they go out, knowing others are testing correctly and isolating until they are no longer a risk to others. So have we seen economic drivers overtake scientific rationale for COVID management plans? [76] Runion reported its second confirmed case. [64], A case is found in the greater Paris, France region, reports BFM TV; the infected person had recently returned from Nigeria. [52] India announces that a portion of the stock of its own vaccines (under the aegis of COVAX) shall be shipped to afflicted African nations. [55] In The Netherlands, two additional cases are identified in older samples that were retroactively checked for the new variant, dating back to 19 and 23 November. Now, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has announced that the self-isolation period for people who test positive for COVID is being cut to five full days in England (it is unclear, at this point, if other UK nations will do the same). The two cases are linked and there is a connection with travel to southern Africa. Do a lateral flow first, and then a PCR if it comes back positive. To fill this gap, this study was designed to assess the criteria for the isolation of SARS-CoV-2-positive patients infected with the Omicron variant. Ireland announces its first case, apparently from community transmission. According to the data, the higher transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is not associated with the shedding of a larger number of infectious viral particles in vaccinated patients . Copyright 20102023, The Conversation US, Inc. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the new rules will maximise activity in the economy and education. Moreover, the assay results for virus isolation and infectivity depend on the sample collection procedure, storage conditions, and duration. These individuals are self-isolating with their households while further testing and contact tracing is underway", "CHP investigates six additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 and provides update on latest investigations on imported cases 12388 and 12404", "Covid, un caso di variante Omicron in Campania: isolati tutti i contatti", "Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Belgium (Situation update 26 of November 2021)", "2 Verdachtsflle der neuen Omicron-Variante in Bayern besttigt - Rckkehrer aus Sdafrika sollen PCR-Test durchfhren lassen, in Selbstquarantne begeben und das Gesundheitsamt kontaktieren", "Dovolm si korigovat mdia. Duration of Omicron variant shedding isolated from upper respiratory samples collected from the reported case-patients in Japan. Omicron is thought to be much faster working than Delta or Alpha - so you will likely see symptoms sooner, around the two day mark. Trending Now: "That basically tells us it's inherently more transmissible," said Mge evik, a clinical lecturer in infectious diseases and medical virology at the University of St . [161], South Korea reports the first two deaths of people who tested positive post mortem for Omicron. The highly contagious Omicron variant of Covid-19 is spreading widely in the U.S. and more people are testing positive for the virus, including those who have been vaccinated or boosted. News-Medical.Net provides this medical information service in accordance 5 January 2022. The Cq values depicting the viral RNA levels were measured. As of December 2, Botswana and South Africa have reported 19 and 172 Omicron variant cases, respectively, accounting for 62% of global cases. Plasma metabolomic characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection. Careers. -, World Health Organization WHO coronavirus (COVID-19) dashboard [updated 2022 Jul 25; cited 2022 May 3], Attaway A.H., Scheraga R.G., Bhimraj A., Biehl M., Hatipolu U. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently shortened its isolation guideline s, citing evidence that COVID is most contagious 1 to 2 days before someone starts feeling symptoms and 2 . Few studies have reported the clinical course and virus shedding duration in Omicron-infected patients based on quantification cycle (Cq) values. Stage five is isolation if you have tested positive or from when you started noticing symptoms. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the [119] (A smaller Omicron surge in spring is also possible. [71] The event had 53,000 attendees, all of whom were urged to get tested (along with staff and exhibitors) inasmuch as authorities feared it as having been a superspreader event. Additionally it was announced via Twitter that Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola were to be added to the UK's Red List as of Sunday at 4:00a.m. GMT[27] genomic sequencing having been performed overnight, thus joining South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. It's likely you won't be certain when you may have picked up the virus, as just a breath of infected air is enough to catch it. Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report: Paul, Sangeeta. [108], New Zealand confirmed its first case of the Omicron variant, an individual who arrived in Auckland from Germany via Dubai on December 10. 8. Severe COVID-19 pneumonia: pathogenesis and clinical management. Previously just under half of covid-19 cases were detected by testing, but since omicron emerged this figure had dropped to under a third, he said. on this website is designed to support, not to replace the relationship Retrieved on May 01, 2023 from https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220318/Duration-of-Omicron-variant-shedding-isolated-from-upper-respiratory-samples-collected-from-the-reported-case-patients-in-Japan.aspx. [177][178] Authorities have published a detailed account of the patient's activities dating back to December 31, quarantined his workplace and residential compound, and collected 2,430 testing samples from these two locations. [70] The U.S. reports its second case (and its first case of community transmission) in a Minnesota resident who in late November had attended an anime convention in New York City, Anime NYC 2021; vaccination had been required for attendance. Omicron variant: assessing the duration of viral shedding and its implications. If Covid becomes an endemic . 2022;28:202221. As a medical microbiologist, I am concerned that there is little scientific evidence to justify the safety of these reduced measures. ", "New Covid variant: How worried should we be? An approach to lifting self-isolation for health care workers with prolonged shedding of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Please note that medical information found [31] Nebraska's number of cases increases to six, all in its southeast. The latest evidence does not show the Omicron variant is contagious for less time than previous versions of the virus that causes COVID-19, chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Tuesday . The mean age of the population was 34 years (range, 23 to 54) and 78% (43/55) were female. Epub 2023 Feb 18. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20220318/Duration-of-Omicron-variant-shedding-isolated-from-upper-respiratory-samples-collected-from-the-reported-case-patients-in-Japan.aspx. Paul, Sangeeta. Instead, the greater impact certainly in the UK appears to be absenteeism resulting in many essential services struggling to function. Omicron appears to cause less severe disease than Delta. Again, everyone is different and will experience their own early symptoms, but these seem to be among the group reported be most patients. Hunter added that because many people have been exposed to omicron and it is circulating widely, isolation becomes less effective as a tool. Cases in South Africa rise by 110% in one week. [151], Omicron becomes the dominant strain in Portugal. 2022 May;28(5):998-1001. doi: 10.3201/eid2805.220197. Sally Cutler does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. whereas Omicron-inoculated cats did not develop any clinical signs and displayed lower levels of virus shedding, suggesting that the Omicron variant might be less pathogenic in cats as well as in humans . He was undertaking mandatory isolation in the Howard Springs quarantine facility in the Northern Territory. Mutation data from, Timeline of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Network for Genomic Surveillance South Africa, "Classification of Omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern", "Structure, Function, and Antigenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein", "Inside SA leg of Omicron variant discovery: A single test result, a missing gene, and an email", "Omicron becomes dominant variant in South Africa", "SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing Update 1 December 2021", "Heavily mutated coronavirus variant puts scientists on alert", "COVID-19: How the spread of Omicron went from patient zero to all around the globe", "Omicron: How dangerous is the new variant first found in South Africa? 2022 Dec 14;14(12):e32523. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Now word has it that the newest kid on the pandemic block . From Monday, January 17, people in England will be able to leave isolation after two negative lateral flow tests (taken 24 hours apart) from day five. 2023 Feb 27;38(8):e59. The quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) measured SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) and was also used for virus isolation assay. Researchers are looking at data from U.S. cases to determine if the variant causes milder disease. [145], Airlines cancel more than 600 flights Christmas Eve, and hundreds on Christmas, due to severe staffing shortages. President Macron warned that the following weeks would be "very difficult". First, it affects when people should test after an exposure. The 18 case-patients studied were SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated, at least more than 14 days before COVID-19 diagnosis. Duration of viable virus shedding and polymerase chain reaction positivity of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in the upper respiratory tract: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Duration of Infectious Virus Shedding by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant-Infected Vaccinees. Seven to ten percent of new confirmed coronavirus cases in France are suspected to be of the Omicron variant and the travel ban on the UK comes into force. [99] China reports its first case (a returnee from overseas),[100] in Tianjin. Because many COVID-19 tests can only detect COVID-19 . 2022;28:9981001. The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical. Staff absences because of isolation have caused severe workforce shortages for critical services, including the NHS, schools, and transport, leading to calls for the UK to follow the US and cut the isolation period to five days.