By Saphora Smith -
NBC News
LONDON - The global risk from the new omicron variant is "very high," the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday, as more countries reported cases of this strain that has sparked global concern.
As cases of the variant are confirmed around the world, an increasing number of nations are tightening their borders, despite calls for caution and outbursts of consternation from some.
[Canada confirms two cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus]
"The appearance of the omicron itself is another reminder that, although many of us think that we have finished with COVID-19, it has not finished with us," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, in a special session of the World Health Assembly.
In written advice to its member states, the UN body urged them to accelerate vaccination coverage against coronavirus “as quickly as possible”, especially among high-priority groups, and to improve surveillance and sequencing efforts.
"Omicron has an unprecedented number of spike mutations, some of which are concerning for their potential impact on the trajectory of the pandemic," the agency explained in the report it tweeted.
"If there is another major spike in omicron-driven coronavirus, the consequences can be dire," they added.
The WHO advice came as more countries reported cases of the new variant, which was first detected in southern Africa last week.
The Scottish Government reported on Monday that six cases of omicron had been identified in Scotland.
Portugal's health authorities said the country had detected 13 cases among members of a professional soccer team, according to The Associated Press news agency.
[The omicron variant of the coronavirus is advancing rapidly and reaches more countries]
The Ricardo Jorge National Health Institute reported that one of those who tested positive at the Lisbon-based Belenenses football club had recently traveled to South Africa.
The United States increases restrictions due to the danger of the omicron variant
Nov. 28, 202101: 56
However, the others had not traveled there, suggesting that it could be one of the first recorded cases of local transmission of the virus outside of southern Africa.
The variant has already been detected in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Australia, Israel and Hong Kong, among other places.
[WHO calls for increased support to accelerate vaccination against COVID-19 in least developed countries]
However, the extent of the actual spread of the omicron variant around the world remains unclear, as countries discover new cases every day.
No cases have yet been identified in the United States, but the government's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and other experts have warned that it may have already reached America.
Dr. Kavita Patel, medical contributor to our sister network NBC News, explained: “It's here.
We know, from previous variants, that by the time we detect it in Africa and the European Union, it is already likely [that it is here] ”.
The United States has restricted travel from South Africa and seven neighboring countries.
Also on Monday, Japan announced that it will suspend entry for all foreign visitors, following Israel, which became the first country to do so on Sunday.
The Government of Israel has also promised to use controversial phone-tracking technology to track and find cases of the new variant.
[The number of countries that close their borders and prohibit flights from southern Africa through the omicron variant increases]
The South African government has opposed global restrictions on people arriving from South Africa and other countries in the region.
Passengers undergo COVID-19 testing at a London Heathrow airport test center, Monday, Nov. 29, 2021.Frank Augstein / AP
His Foreign Ministry has said that the measures were "similar to punishing South Africa for its advanced genomic sequencing and the ability to detect new variants more quickly."
"Excellent science should be applauded and not punished," they said in a statement.
Despite the worldwide alarm, there is still little knowledge about the variant and its possible virulence.
Scientists have warned that it is not yet clear whether omicron is more dangerous than other versions of a virus that has killed more than 5 million people.
[Pharmaceutical Merck announces that its COVID-19 pill is not as effective as expected]
Health experts and world leaders are urging the population to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Vaccination rates globally remain uneven, as citizens of some wealthy industrialized countries are offered booster shots, while lack of access means other nations are struggling to inoculate their populations.
Low-income countries, most of them in Africa, have received only 0.6% of all vaccines, according to Tedros.