Covid-19: WHO says PCRs can detect Omicron variant, as African nations ban travellers from infected countries

While Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test can detect infection with Omicron, studies are looking to whether the Covid-19 variant of concern has any impact on other test types, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Sunday.

“The widely-used PCR tests continue to detect infection, including infection with Omicron, as we have seen with other variants,” the World Health Organization said in an update on what is known so far about the new variant.

“Studies are ongoing to determine whether there is any impact on other types of tests, including rapid antigen detection tests.”

The WHO on Friday declared Omicron, first detected earlier this month in southern Africa, to be a variant of concern.

The classification put Omicron into the most troubling category of Covid-19 variants, along with the globally dominant Delta, and its weaker rivals Alpha, Beta and Gamma.

Omicron spread across the globe on Sunday, shutting borders and renewing curbs as the EU chief said governments faced a “race against time” to understand the strain.

The variant has cast doubt on global efforts to battle the pandemic due to fears that it is highly infectious, forcing countries to re-impose measures many had hoped were a thing of the past.

While preliminary evidence suggests there may be an increased risk of people who previously had Covid being reinfected with Omicron, information is currently limited.

The WHO said it was working to understand the potential impact of the variant on existing counter-measures, including vaccines.

As for treatments, the organisation said corticosteroids and IL6 receptor blockers would still be effective for managing patients with severe Covid-19 — while other treatments would be assessed to see if they are still as effective against Omicron.

The WHO has said studies into various aspects of the new variant would take several weeks to reach conclusions.

“WHO is coordinating with a large number of researchers around the world to better understand Omicron,” it said, adding: “More information will emerge in the coming days and weeks.”

Meanwhile, the North African nation of Morocco has said it will halt incoming passenger flights for two weeks starting this Monday night amid concern over the spread of a new, heavily mutated Covid-19 variant dubbed Omicron, a government committee said.

“The decision has been taken because of the quick spread of the new Covid variant, Omicron, namely in Europe and Africa, and in order… to protect the health of Moroccan citizens,” the committee tasked with overseeing Morocco’s Covid response said in a statement.

It said the measure would take effect from Monday night for two weeks, and would be evaluated regularly to make “adjustments if necessary”.

Repatriation flights departing Morocco will be organised in collaboration with embassies on a case by case basis, an official source said.

The announcement came hours after Israel said it would be closing its borders to foreign tourists from Sunday evening in a bid to stem the spread of the Omicron variant.

Morocco, whose economy relies heavily on tourism, had announced Friday a ban on entry to travellers from South Africa and six other African nations.

It had already decided to suspend flights to and from France amid a spike in coronavirus infections in Europe.