Covid news live: Hong Kong to ban non-resident arrivals from Australia, Canada and parts of Europe; WHO warns Omicron poses ‘very high’ risk

Hong Kong plans to ban non-residents who have been to Australia, Canada, Israel and six European countries; the Omicron variant poses very high global risk of infection surges, WHO says

Stock markets in Asia have bounced back again as investors’ concerns about the new Omicron Covid variant eased. In Australia the ASX200 was up more than 1% while in Japan the Nikkei was up 0.75%.

It followed a stronger showing on Monday on Wall Street where the Dow Jones industrial average closed up 0.6% and the broader S&P500 was up 1.2% after some hefty losses on Friday when news of the new strain shook confidence.

Hong Kong’s very stringent system of boarding, quarantine and also testing requirements has successfully stopped the transmission of the three Omicron cases, that we have identified in our designated quarantine hotel, from going into the community.

Non-Hong Kong residents from these four places will not be allowed to enter Hong Kong.

The most stringent quarantine requirements will also be implemented on relevant inbound travellers from these places.

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Source: The Guardian