The Emergency Committee for the International Health Regulation of WHO has issued certain recommendations despite the propagation of the omicron variant worldwide.
It is notably recommended to “lift or soften international circulation prohibitions, because they do not bring any added value and continue to contribute to the economic and social stress of the parties”, explains the committee. Indeed, the WHO believes that the implementation of general travel prohibitions “is not effective in removing international spread” and “can discourage the transparent and rapid notification of concern emerging variants”.
On this subject, the WHO said, for the second time, that the obligation to provide proof of vaccination against the COVVI-19 for international travel was excessive. The Committee recommends “not to demand proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for international travel as the only way or condition allowing international travel given the limited global access and the inequitable distribution of vaccines”.