The Netherlands confirmed 13 new cases of coronavirus in the Netherlands, while Australia discovered two. The latest detections of it were made by Australia and the Netherlands.

As nations attempt to stop the spread of the variant, a number of restrictions are being implemented around the globe. Israel’s decision to ban foreigners from entering its territory Sunday was the most difficult.

Confirmed and suspected cases of this new variant were already reported in many European countries. They also appeared in Israel as well as Hong Kong just days after being identified by South African researchers. This “act first and ask questions later” approach was based on growing concerns about the possible emergence of a more contagious variant almost two years into the global pandemic, which has already killed more than 5,000,000 people and caused economic disruptions across the globe.

Researchers are still unsure about this new variant. However, they fear that it could be less resistant to vaccines. This may mean that the pandemic will last longer than expected.

According to the Dutch public health agency, 13 South Africans who had arrived Friday from South Africa have been confirmed positive for omicron. These were among the 61 individuals who had tested positive after they arrived on two of the Amsterdam Schiphol flights before the ban. While sequencing was being done, they were quickly placed in isolation at most a nearby hotel.

Australian authorities have confirmed that the first person to test positive in Australia for the omicron variant was two international travelers arriving from Africa. Now, arrivals from nine African countries must quarantine in hotels upon their arrival. Three cases were reported by Germans in return travelers from nine African countries over the weekend.

Israel has moved to bar foreigners entering the country and to impose quarantine on Israelis arriving from outside.

At the beginning of each week’s Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett stated that “Restrictions to the country’s border is not an easy task but it’s temporary and necessary.”

Dr. Ran Balicer of the government’s advisory board on Covid-19 said that new measures are necessary to combat the “fogof war” around the variant. He stated to Kan radio that it was better to take action early to stop its spread.

Hugo de Jonge (Dutch Health Minister) said that while he asked his country’s public health agency for information on additional travel restrictions, he indicated that he wanted to collaborate with European Union counterparts. “Those are real steps we will have together.”

Many countries have restricted or banned travel from various southern African countries — among the latest New Zealand, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Saudi Arabia. Brazil, Canada (EU), Iran and the U.S. are just a few of the countries that have imposed restrictions. The World Health Organization has advised against overreacting before any variant is fully studied.

South Africa’s government reacted angrily against the bans on travel. It said they were “akin punishing South Africa because of its advanced genomic sequencing” and ability to identify new variants faster. It stated that it was going to try and persuade other countries not to impose them.

Naledi Pandor, minister of international relations, stated in a statement that “While we acknowledge the right of each country to take necessary precautionary actions to protect their citizens,”.

Anthony Fauci is the United States’ foremost expert in infectious diseases. He said it would be no surprise if there was an omicron variant already present, but has not yet been confirmed.

Europe was already struggling, with many of its citizens experiencing a dramatic increase in recent weeks. Officials were alert as well.

On Saturday, after two confirmed cases of Omicron disease in the UK, the U.K. tightened regulations on international arrivals and mask-wearing. Spain has announced that it will not accept British tourists who haven’t been vaccinated beginning Dec. 1.

Italy went through the passenger lists for airline passengers arriving in Italy in recent weeks. This was after a Mozambican-based business traveller who had flown in from Mozambique tested positive for Omicron. Alessio di Amato, the top Lazio regional health official said that controls at all airports, ports, train stations and trains had been strengthened.

Olivier Veran, French Minister of Health, stated that while there are no cases confirmed in France, it is possible that there may be cases currently.

Veran indicated that France will not change its strategy for fighting the recent surge in infection caused by the delta variant. It is unclear how the vaccines currently available against it work. However, Veran confirmed that France’s current strategy is to increase vaccinations and boosters.

David Hui is a Hong Kong-based expert in respiratory medicine and government advisor on the pandemic. He said that although it’s not certain if the current vaccines against coronavirus are safe, the city should increase its vaccination rates and implement booster doses as quickly as possible.

He stated that two of the people who had tested positive for the Omicron variant were the ones to have received treatment. BioNTech–Pfizershot, and displayed mild symptoms like a sore throat.

He stated that vaccines must work, but they would have a reduction in effectiveness.