The World Health Organisation warned Monday that the global risk from the Omicron variant is ‘very high’ based on early evidence, saying the mutated Coronavirus could lead to surges with ‘severe consequences.’ The assessment from the UN health agency, contained in a technical paper issued to member states, amounted to WHO’s strongest, most explicit warning yet about the new version that was first identified days ago in South Africa. It came as a number of countries reported cases of the variant and moved to slam their doors in an act-now-ask-questions-later approach. 

Japan announced it is barring entry to all foreign visitors, joining Israel in doing so. Morocco banned all incoming flights. Other countries have moved to prohibit travellers from southern Africa.