The WHO said on Monday the Omicron coronavirus variant carried a very high risk of infection surges as more countries closed their borders and reported cases of the new strain.
Here's the latest from around the world overnight.
Europe
Netherlands
Dutch health authorities said on Sunday that 13 cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant have been found in the Netherlands among passengers that were on two flights from South Africa that arrived on Friday.
They were among 61 passengers who tested positive for COVID-19 on the two flights, which carried about 600 people. Those who tested positive are being kept in isolation at a hotel near the airport.
"It is not unlikely more cases will appear in the Netherlands," Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said at a press conference in Rotterdam. "This could possibly be the tip of the iceberg."
Portugal
Portugal detected 13 cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant on Monday, all involving players and staff of top division football club Belenenses SAD, one of whose players recently returned from South Africa, health authority DGS said.
The diagnoses were made after the Lisbon club played a Primeira Liga match against Benfica on Saturday that started with only nine Belenenses players on the pitch because of a COVID-19 outbreak. Only seven players returned to the field after halftime, and the match was abandoned two minutes into the second half with Benfica leading 7-0.
Sweden
One case of the Omicron coronavirus variant has been detected in Sweden, the Public Health Agency said on Monday.
Spain
Spain has detected its first case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in a traveller coming from South Africa, El Pais newspaper reported on Monday.
Italy
Italy reported 65 coronavirus-related deaths on Monday against 47 the day before, the health ministry said, while the daily tally of new infections fell to 7975 from 12,932.
Switzerland
The first probable case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been detected in Switzerland, the Government said late on Sunday, as the country tightened its entry restrictions to check its spread.
Americas
US
The United States is unlikely to impose further restrictions amid the anticipated arrival of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, the nation's top infectious disease official said on Monday after a travel ban on some southern African nations began.
US President Joe Biden urged Americans to wear masks indoors and in public places.
UK
Britain will offer a COVID-19 booster shot to all adults in a bid to accelerate its vaccination programme amid concern over the new Omicron coronavirus variant, as eight more cases were found in the country.
Scotland reported six new Omicron cases on Monday, with two further cases confirmed in London, to bring the English total to five. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said not all of the six cases had recent travel history or known links with others who had travelled to southern Africa.
Sturgeon said the timeframe of the cases suggested it was unlikely but not impossible that there was a link to the COP26 climate change conference that took place in Glasgow earlier this month.
Russia
Russia on Monday said it would be ready to provide booster shots to protect against the Omicron coronavirus variant if needed and the Kremlin said jittery market reaction to the new strain was emotional and not based on scientific data.
Ireland
Ireland is studying more than 10 suspected cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant.
Asia-Pacific
Australia
Australia said it would delay the reopening of its international border by two weeks after reporting its first Omicron cases.
South Korea
South Korea said on Monday it has shelved plans to further relax COVID-19 restrictions due to the strain on its healthcare system from rising hospitalisation and death rates, as well as the threat posed by the new Omicron variant.
South Korean hospitals are treating 629 patients with severe COVID-19 and at least 1,200 are waiting for beds to free up in Seoul and its surrounding areas, Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol said, urging the public to get tested and get booster shots.
Philippines
The Philippines launched on Monday an ambitious drive to vaccinate nine million people against COVID-19 in three days, deploying security forces and thousands of volunteers.
China
China said on Monday that it agreed in principle with proposals to strengthen compliance and sharing of information under amendments to the World Health Organization's International Health Regulations of 2005.
A resurgence of COVID-19 infections in northern China has forced two small cities to suspend public transport and tighten control over residents' movement, as the country has showed no willingness to go easy on local outbreaks.
Ukraine
Ukraine has introduced mandatory 14-day self-isolation for travellers returning from countries where the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been detected, the health ministry said on Monday.
Middle East and Africa
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday he was deeply concerned about the isolation of southern African countries after COVID-19 travel restrictions were imposed by several countries over the new Omicron variant of coronavirus.
"I appeal to all governments to consider repeated testing for travelers, together with other appropriate and truly effective measures, with the objective of avoiding the risk of transmission so as to allow for travel and economic engagement," Guterres said in a statement.
"The people of Africa cannot be blamed for the immorally low level of vaccinations available in Africa - and they should not be penalized for identifying and sharing crucial science and health information with the world."
Botswana
Botswana's health minister Edwin Dikoloti said on Sunday the country had detected 15 more cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant, adding to the four confirmed cases it declared on Friday.
South Africa
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday that authorities were considering making COVID-19 shots compulsory for certain places and activities, as a rise in infections linked to a new variant threatens to become a fourth wave.
Only a quarter of South Africans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 despite a sufficient supply of doses.
South Africa's daily COVID-19 infection rate could triple to more than 10,000 by the end of this week as the new Omicron variant spreads rapidly, an infectious disease expert said on Monday.
Ramaphosa said the world needed to resist unjustified and unscientific travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic that he said were mostly hurting developing nations.
Israel
In Israel, a ban on arrivals by foreigners has taken effect.
Rights groups petitioned Israel's top court on Monday to repeal new COVID-19 measures that authorise the country's domestic intelligence service to use counter-terrorism phone tracking technology to contain the spread of the Omicron virus variant.
Economic impact
Fears the new variant might be resistant to vaccines helped wipe roughly US$2 trillion off global stock markets on Friday but markets settled down again on Monday.
Vaccines and treatment
BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are working on vaccines that specifically target Omicron in case their existing shots are not effective against the new coronavirus variant, the companies said on Monday.
Reuters / Newshub.
