Countries Where Covid-19 Omicron Variant Has Existed

Travel bans have been imposed by many countries on South Africa in an effort to block the spread of the coronavirus variant.

Financial markets plunged on Friday, and oil prices also fell.

A South African doctor, who was one of the first to suspect the emergence of a different strain of coronavirus, said on Sunday that Omicron's symptoms had so far been mild and a cure could be managed at home.

Chairman of the South African Medical Association, Dr. Angelique Coetze, told Reuters that, unlike Delta, patients affected by the Omicron variant had not reported loss of smell or taste so far. The oxygen levels of the patients did not drop either.

Israel on Saturday night announced it would bar entry to all foreigners and would reintroduce phone tracking technology for counterterrorism to prevent the spread of Omicron.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said the ban, which is currently awaiting approval from the government, would be in effect for 14 days.

Israeli officials hope that during this time there will be more information about how effective the vaccines will be against Omicron.

The United States' leading expert on infectious diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, on Sunday told President Joe Biden it would take two weeks to obtain definitive information about the transmission and characteristics of Omicron, the White House said in a statement.