Much of Asia has managed to keep Omnicron at bay even as the variant rages in other parts of the globe. However, the regions that host most of the global population are bracing an inevitable surge. Strict quarantine rules for arrivals and mask-wearing have helped slow down the pace of this variant in Asia.
Sources reveal that of every 100 infections last reported around the world, about 5 were reported from Asian and Middle Eastern countries. This region is currently hosting a million new infections every 14 days and has had more than 84,304,000 cases ever since the pandemic began. Countries like Japan, South Korea, and Thailand have reinstated entry and quarantine restrictions quickly as New Year’s eve is approaching.
Amid the fears of rising cases, Japan braced for a feared rebound in coronavirus cases as the highways and airports filled with travelers at the beginning of the New Year’s holiday.
“The highest risk is meeting people without taking adequate measures to prevent infection”, said Norio Ohmagari, director of the Disease Control and Prevention Center and top health advisor to Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
Health experts predict it’s only a matter of time before Omnicron comes. “Omnicron has such a high transmission rate that it’s too obvious that it will become the dominant variant in South Korea”, said Jaehun Jung, a professor at Gachon University College of Medicine in South Korea.