Latest DEVELOPMENTS

• On 26 November, the World Health Organization named the Omicron variant a "new variant of concern" after it had been identified a day earlier by scientists in South Africa. Omicron is spreading rapidly in South Africa, displacing Delta as the dominant strain among new cases, though it is unclear if Omicron originated in South Africa.
• Omicron has been detected in South Africa, Botswana, and in travelers to Australia, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany,  Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Hong Kong. This list will grow in the coming days and weeks. 
• As a reaction to Omicron, many countries have banned flights from southern Africa, while several countries have significantly adjusted restrictions or banned all travel outright;
  
  
  • Israel - banned all foreign travelers until at least 11 December. Returning nationals must quarantine
  • Morocco - banned all incoming flights for at least the next two weeks.
  • Japan - indefinite entry ban for all foreign nationals.
  • Australia - flight suspension and entry ban for travelers and flights from southern Africa. Quarantine mandate and self-isolation requirement imposed for all international arrivals in Victoria, New South Wales, and Australian Capital Territory.

• While it is too soon to compare the symptoms and severity of Omicron to other iterations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, Omicron has a number of mutations affecting the spike protein, raising concerns over possible immune evasion and increased transmissibility, as was seen with Delta, which currently comprises 99% of cases globally. 
• Pfizer-BioNTech expects to receive lab data on the Omicron variant within the next two weeks. It says that they can adapt mRNA vaccine within six weeks and possibly ship initial batches within 100 days in event of escape variant.
• Moderna has told investors that it is evaluating a full booster dose of original vaccine, studying two multi-valent boosters, and plans on launching an Omicron-specific booster.
• Johnson and Johnson has announced that it is already testing its vaccine’s efficacy against the new variant of concern.
• Novavax is on pace to file for U.S. EUA before 2022. It has already applied for approval in the EU and Canada. Novavax is developing a new version of its vaccine and it will begin testing and manufacturing in the next few weeks.

Situation Update

• On 02 November 2021, the U.S. Department of State declared a “Level 4: Do Not Travel Advisory” for Ethiopia, restricting U.S. Embassy personnel from traveling outside of Addis Ababa and advising all U.S. citizens in Ethiopia to leave the country.
  
  
• The advisory comes after rebel groups – the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) – seized two strategically important towns 235 miles north of the capital along Ethiopia’s north-south A2 highway, effectively splitting the country in two. Armed conflict and civil unrest continue in Amhara, Afar, and Tigray.
  
  
• The Ethiopian central government declared a six-month state of emergency and authorities in Addis Ababa and the state of Amhara have also called on residents to register any weapons and prepare to fight. The state of emergency gives the government wide legal power to arrest anyone suspected of providing financial, material, or moral support to the rebel group. Reports of the arrests of ethnic Tigray in Addis have circulated over the past several days.
  
  
• Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (HAAB/ADD) is still fully operational; however, it is unclear if ADD will remain open to commercial flights should conflict reach the outskirts of the city. Flights are reported to be fully booked, as diplomats, expatriates, government officials, and Ethiopian citizens flee Addis.

Latest DEVELOPMENTS

• The United States will lift international travel restrictions on 08 November for fully vaccinated individuals. Those vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) will be accepted. In addition, the U.S. land borders with Canada and Mexico will re-open to fully vaccinated leisure travelers. A negative test will still be required for international air arrivals.

• Australia is expected to lift restrictions on international travel in November, several months earlier than anticipated, due to high vaccination rates inside the country. At least 58 percent of the country has been fully vaccinated, just ahead of the United States.

• Cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have all steadily declined in the U.S. Hotspots are now focused in the upper Midwest where earlier cool temperatures have led to more indoor activity. 

Situation Update

On 16 October, assailants in Port-au-Prince, Haiti kidnapped 17 members of an Ohio-based Anabaptist Christian aid group, including five children. The victims include 16 Americans and one Canadian. Local police suspect the involvement of the 400 Mawozo gang, who also kidnapped five priests and two nuns earlier this year.

Situation update

At approximately 1100 local time, sniper fire was reported against members and supporters of Lebanon’s Shia Hezbollah and the Amal Movement near the Palace of Justice in the Tayouneh area of Beirut, southeast of the city center.

THREAT REPORT

On Saturday, 18 September, 2021, upwards of 700 people will return to the U.S. Capitol to rally in support of defendants charged in connection with the January 6 storming of the Capitol building following the pro-Trump "Stop the Steal" rally. The demonstration is planned for noon at Union Square, which encompasses the U.S. Capitol. Multiple road closures will be in effect.

Latest DEVELOPMENTS

• The European Union removed the United States from its "Safe List", causing several European nations to alter their entry restrictions on American travelers. For example, Spain now requires unvaccinated Americans to provide proof of a negative test, while Switzerland removed the U.S. from its own list of approved traveler countries. 
• Pfizer expects to report data needed for vaccine approval in five to 11-year-olds later in September and could potentially submit an application for emergency use shortly after. It said data for kids aged two to under five could arrive soon after. For children between six months and two years, Pfizer has said it could have safety and immunogenicity data as early as October or November. It is likely all children in the U.S. 6mo and older will be able to receive Pfizer's vaccine by the start of 2022.
• Hospitalizations in the U.S. appear to be flattening as the Delta variant wave looks to have peaked in much of the South. Hotspots are now in Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Daily deaths now average nearly 2,000/day and will likely peak in the next 10-14 days.
  
  

Latest DEVELOPMENTS

• The U.S. FDA gave full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine, named Comirnaty. The decision set off a wave of vaccine mandates by various organizations, corporations, and institutions, including LSU, Ohio State, New York City school system, the Pentagon, and CVS, among others. Delta Airlines has announced they will charge unvaccinated employees an extra $200 per month for health insurance. 
• The FDA has authorized vaccine booster shots for immunocompromised or other at-risk individuals. 

Global DEVELOPMENTS

• As of 02 August, England will be open to vaccinated travelers from the USA and Europe, without the need to quarantine. Arrivals who have been fully vaccinated in the USA and European countries will still be required to complete a pre-departure test before arrival into England, alongside a PCR test on or before day 2 after arrival. 
  • Separate rules will continue to apply for those arriving from France.
  • Those vaccinated in the US will also need to provide proof of US residency.
  • Passengers from all countries cannot travel to the UK unless they have completed a passenger locator form.
    
• The US CDC updated its guidance for mask wearing amid the spread of the Delta variant across most of the country. 
  
  • They recommend for fully vaccinated people to wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission.
  • They added guidance that fully vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission, particularly if they are immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19, or if they have someone in their household who is immunocompromised, at increased risk of severe disease or not fully vaccinated.