Israel on verge of state of emergency, two weeks after ‘Omega’ COVID-19 variant ‘war game drill’ –All three Omicron cases in Israel were detected in those who were vaccinated, according to The Times of Israel. By legitgov | 26 Nov 2021 | Today, the Independent reported: Israel on ‘verge of state of emergency’ over new coronavirus variant –Country extends ban on travel to and from Africa after new strain detected in three travellers. Euronews.net reported on Friday: “The B.1.1.529 variant, named ‘Omicron’ by the World Health Organization (WHO), has been described as having an ‘extremely high’ number of mutations, according to South African scientists who first detected the Beta variant.” Agence France-Presse, November 12, stated: Israel holds ‘war game’ in case of lethal new coronavirus strain–The exercises, which simulated the outbreak of an ‘Omega’ Covid-19 variant that bypasses vaccines and sickens children, prompting mass hospitalisations –The ‘world first’ drill covered different aspects of a crisis, including mass inoculation, ordering curfews and imposing a flight ban. Disclose.TV tweeted: “NOW – Israel is on the verge of a state of emergency just two weeks after its ‘Omega War Game’ virus exercise, says PM Bennett.”
Israel detects its first case of new, highly mutated COVID-19 strain –Two other returnees from Malawi also suspected to have contagious B.1.1.529 variant; all three were vaccinated| 26 Nov 2021 | The first case of a new, highly mutated coronavirus variant that first emerged in South Africa was detected in Israel on Friday, the Health Ministry announced, a development that experts have been fearing. The person was identified as an Israeli who had returned from Malawi. The ministry said two others were suspected of also being infected with the new strain, currently known by its scientific name, B.1.1.529, and were awaiting final test results. All three were vaccinated, the ministry said, adding that their inoculation details were still being verified.
Dow posts biggest single-day drop this year as new COVID-19 variant triggers market sell-off –Dow ends the day down 903 points, marking worst day of the year | 26 Nov 2021 | U.S. stocks suffered from some of the biggest single-day declines of the year on Friday as a new, fast-spreading COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa triggered fresh fears that a resurgent coronavirus could scuttle the global economy’s recovery from the pandemic. The Dow Jones Industrial Average – after briefly falling more than 1,000 points – ended the day down 905 points, or 2.5%, for its worst drop of the year, while the S&P 500 fell 2.27%, its worst day since February. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.23% in the shortened trading session on Friday. (U.S. markets close at 1 p.m. ET due to the Thanksgiving holiday.)
U.S. to curb travel from eight southern African countries over new COVID-19 variant | 26 Nov 2021 | The United States will bar entry to most travelers from eight southern African countries beginning next week over concerns about a new coronavirus variant found in South Africa, Joe Biden said on Friday. The restrictions, which go into effect Monday, do not ban flights or apply to U.S. citizens and lawful U.S. permanent residents, a Biden administration official said. The U.S. is among countries around the world that rushed to suspend travel from southern Africa on news over the new variant, named omicron, which the World Health Organization said was “of concern.” The restrictions apply to South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi.
WHO names new COVID variant ‘Omicron’ | 26 Nov 2021 | The new COVID-19 variant first detected in South Africa was given the name Omicron by the World Health Organization on Friday. An advisory panel classified Omicron as a highly transmissible virus of concern and gave it its name under its Greek letter system. It marks the first time in months that WHO has classified a COVID-19 variant with such a name — and is only the fifth variant to be given the designation amid the pandemic.
California County Mandates Masks in Private Homes for People Not in Same Household –Vaccination status doesn’t matter, say Santa Cruz County officials | 23 Nov 2021 | Officials in Santa Cruz County, California, imposed a sweeping indoor mask mandate this week that includes private settings. For individuals gathering with people who do not live in the same household, masks should be worn in homes regardless of the COVID-19 vaccination status, according to the county on Monday. “Masks must be worn in private settings, including your home, when non-household members are present,” the county wrote, without saying how it would enforce masking inside private homes. The mandate will also apply to public settings including offices and grocery stores. Businesses will be required to post signs about the mask requirement, the county said.
Irish senator proposes vaccine passports should be needed to buy groceries | 25 Nov 2021 | A senator in Ireland has said that the government should consider banning those without a vaccine passport from public transportation and supermarkets, in one of the most extreme Covid proposals to date. “Why not supermarkets? Why not public transport,” Senator Gerry Horkan asked. “I know it is difficult to police some of these things, but really, if you want to participate in society, you need to be vaccinated.” Horkan’s remarks stirred backlash on social media. One Twitter user wrote, “When you propose that the unvaccinated should be banned from feeding themselves you are advocating for genocide.”
COVID outbreak hits Canadian army base, even though all soldiers are fully vaccinated –Soldiers based on CFB Petawawa located in Ontario all got infected after participating in a training course that took place between November 13 and 14. | 23 Nov 2021 | Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Petawawa has been hit with a COVID outbreak resulting in hundreds of fully vaccinated Canadian soldiers being forced into quarantine. According to a CTV News report, soldiers based on CFB Petawawa located in Ontario all got infected after participating in a training course that took place between November 13 and 14. Everyone who participated in the course had been fully jabbed. Col. Eric Landry, Commander of 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, said that at first “a positive case was identified” and placed in quarantine, according to CTV News.
Active and retired Canadian law enforcement officials warn head of Mounted Police about forced vaccines –‘Requiring mandatory COVID-19 treatment options is a slippery slope and allows the government to overstep its authority unchecked,’ reads the letter by Mounties for Freedom. | 27 Oct 2021 | Active and retired members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) joined together to say they cannot “willingly participate in enforcing” COVID jab mandates. They have asked their boss to investigate government officials’ role in coming up with draconian virus rules. “Requiring mandatory COVID-19 treatment options is a slippery slope and allows the government to overstep its authority unchecked. It infringes on the fundamental belief in our society that the individual has the right and freedom to choose. The choice of whether to receive medical treatments has always been an individual’s right in Canada,” says the group called Mounties for Freedom in an open letter dated October 21 sent to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki.
Top Australian Official: We’re Transferring COVID-19 Patients to Quarantine Camps | 23 Nov 2021 | Australian authorities are removing COVID-19-positive patients and residents in the Northern Territory to a quarantine camp in Howard Springs, after nine cases were identified in the community of Binjari, according to a local official. Hard lockdowns were implemented in Binjari and nearby Rockhole on Nov. 20, according to Northern Territory’s chief minister. “Residents of Binjari and Rockhole no longer have the five reasons to leave their homes,” Chief Minister Michael Gunner said in a Facebook post dated Nov. 20. Australia’s five allowable reasons for people to leave their homes include going to work or school, buying food or supplies, exercising, caregiving, or getting vaccinated… Gunner said on Nov. 21 that eight people have been taken to a facility in Howard Springs, the Guardian reported.
Judge Rules Local Missouri COVID-19 Orders Unconstitutional | 24 Nov 2021 | A Missouri judge on Tuesday ruled that local COVID-19 orders violated the Missouri Constitution, ordering local health officials to rescind them. Judge Daniel Green of Cole County wrote that the Department of Health and Senior Services unconstitutionally gave too much power to individual local health officials and directors. As a result, he ruled, those orders must be lifted, meaning that local health orders must be rescinded. “This case is about whether Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services regulations can abolish representative government in the creation of public health laws, and whether it can authorize closure of a school or assembly based on the unfettered opinion of an unelected official. This court finds it cannot,” the judge wrote in his order.
