Countries Consider New Restrictions as Omicron Spreads Worldwide

Countries around the world are considering new limits on movement because of the fast-spreading Omicron version of the coronavirus.

The proposed restrictions¹ come as many people worldwide prepare to celebrate Christmas later this week. Omicron infections are increasing quickly across Europe, the United States and Asia.

Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and South Korea are among countries to have restarted partial or full lockdowns or other social distancing measures in recent days.

In New Zealand, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said his country was delaying the start of a methodical reopening of its border until the end of February. "All of the evidence so far points to Omicron being the most transmissible COVID-19 variant² yet," he said.

Germany's Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases on Tuesday recommended that "maximum contact restrictions" be put in place.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday he was considering all kinds of measures.

Sweden will urge all employees to work from home if possible and put in place stronger rules for social distancing. "We must now take joint³ responsibility and we need to adapt to the new reality," Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said at a news conference.

In Denmark, Omicron is now the main version of the new coronavirus, Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said. Many countries in the West are hoping that booster vaccine⁴ shots will help control the spread of Omicron, as some studies have shown two shots may not be enough.

The European Union's drug regulator is prepared for the possibility that vaccines⁵ may have to be changed to fight Omicron. There is no evidence that that will be necessary yet.

‘We're not going back to lockdowns'

In Australia, Omicron cases have risen but hospitalizations remain low. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged state and territory leaders to avoid more lockdowns.

"We're not going back to lockdowns. We're going forward to live with this virus with common sense and responsibility," Morrison said.

In the United States, the administration of President Joe Biden said it plans to buy 500 million COVID-19 tests that Americans can get online and use at home.

Omicron was first found last month in southern Africa and Hong Kong. The form of the virus has been reported in at least 89 countries.

The severity of illness it causes remains⁶ unclear. But the World Health Organization warned it is spreading faster than the Delta⁷ version and is causing infections in people already vaccinated⁸ or who have recovered from COVID-19.

Words in This Story

lockdown – n. an emergency in which people are not permitted to freely move about an area because of danger

transmissible –adj. able to be spread to other people, animals

maximum –adj. the highest number or the most possible

adapt –v. to change your behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation

regulator –n. an official who works for the part of the government that controls a public activity (such as banking or insurance) by making and enforcing rules; an agency that supervises a public activity

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 variant   

adj.不同的，变异的；n.变体，异体

参考例句：

• We give professional suggestions according to variant tanning stages for each customer.我们针对每位顾客不同的日晒阶段，提供强度适合的晒黑建议。
• In a variant of this approach,the tests are data- driven.这个方法的一个变种，是数据驱动的测试。

3 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

4 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

5 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

8 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？