The discovery and spread of the Omicron variant highlights that the world is “closer to the start of the pandemic than the end” a UK scientific advisor has warned.
Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust who stepped down as a government scientific adviser last month, said the emergence means the pandemic is far from over, and our progress in combatting the virus was "being squandered".
He said rich countries had been taking “a very blinkered domestic focus, lulled into thinking that the worst of the pandemic was behind us”, the Guardian reports.
Read more: Wales will get 'hundreds if not thousands' of Omicron cases, health minister warns
He added that, while cautiously hoping the vaccines in circulation would protect against severe illness from Omicron, it might not be the case for future variants.
In the Observer, Sir Farrar wrote: "The longer this virus continues to spread in largely unvaccinated populations globally, the more likely it is that a variant that can overcome our vaccines and treatments will emerge.
"If that happens, we could be close to square one.
“This political drift and lack of leadership is prolonging the pandemic for everyone, with governments unwilling to really address inequitable access to the vaccines, tests and treatment.
"There have been wonderful speeches, warm words, but not the actions needed to ensure fair access to what we know works and would bring the pandemic to a close.”
He said urgent, spread preventing action is still needed. He wrote: “Wearing masks indoors, increasing testing, social distancing, isolating if positive (with support to do so) and vaccination will all help to drive down transmission and protect against illness.”
His message comes as travel rules for Wales and the rest of the UK are amped up due to the link in international travel and positive Omicron cases.
UK Government announced on Saturday, December 4, that England would be reintroducing pre-departure Covid tests for all passengers arriving in the UK amid fears about the spread of the Omicron variant.
Wales swiftly announced they would be following suit. A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "In line with the rest of the UK we will be taking action to move Nigeria onto the red list from Monday and to introduce pre-departure tests for travellers into the UK and Wales."
Currently, Wales has only reported one positive Omicron case, however, Health Minister Eluned Morgan has said Wales will get "hundreds if not thousands" of Omicron cases in Wales in the next few weeks. Read more about that here.
With Wales' next review coming next week, there have also been warnings that Covid passes for pubs and restaurants could be introduced "at last minute".
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