NICOSIA: Cyprus confirmed its first cases Wednesday of the Covid-19 variant behind the acceleration of India’s explosive outbreak, detected among four people quarantined upon arrival, the health ministry said.
The cases were detected in people arriving from India, Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines, countries under Cypriot rules where quarantine for 14-days is required on arrival.
Four samples tested positive for the Indian variant, while two others were positive for the South African variant.
The World Health Organization said last week that the B.1.617 variant of Covid-19, first found in India in October, had been detected in 44 countries.
“These people were quarantined in hotels based on protocols and taken to a center when their PCR (test) results came back positive,” the health ministry on the Mediterranean island said.
“They did not come into contact with other people,” it added.
Variants are viewed as more dangerous because they are potentially more transmissible, deadly or able to get past some vaccine protections.
“The only way to curb the aggressive transmission they cause is high vaccination coverage of the population,” the ministry added.
Cyprus is speeding up its vaccination rollout, with 45 percent of adults having had at least one jab, with hopes to reach 65 percent by July.
Daily reported cases soared in April to a record 941, fueled by the more contagious British variant, but has since dropped significantly following two weeks of tightened restrictions.
Government-controlled southern Cyprus has registered over 71,000 cases of Covid-19 and 348 deaths since the pandemic began.
Cyprus reports first cases of Indian Covid-19 variant in travelers from Pakistan, other nations
https://arab.news/8wb5p
Cyprus reports first cases of Indian Covid-19 variant in travelers from Pakistan, other nations
- The cases were detected in people arriving from India, Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines
- Four samples tested positive for Indian variant, two others were positive for South African variant
Pakistan rejects Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, alleged plans to displace Palestinians
- Israel last week became the world’s first country to recognize Somaliland, a breakaway region from the African nation
- As per media reports, Israel has contacted Somaliland over potential relocation of Palestinians forcibly removed from Gaza
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Acting UN Ambassador Usman Jadoon this week rejected Israel’s recognition of the breakaway Somaliland region by describing it as a unilateral and unlawful move, saying Islamabad stands opposed to any plans aimed at forcefully displacing Palestinians from Gaza.
Last week, Israel announced it had recognized Somaliland, a breakaway African region that declared independence from Somalia in 1991. The move sparked anger among Muslim states, with 21 Islamic nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) rejecting Israel’s move collectively in a joint statement last week.
Several international news outlets months earlier reported that Israel had contacted Somaliland over the potential resettlement of Palestinians forcibly removed from Gaza. Muslim countries fear Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region could be part of its plan to relocate Palestinians forcibly from Gaza to the region.
“We strongly condemn the unilateral and unlawful recognition by Israel of the ‘Somaliland’ region of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” Jadoon, Pakistan’s acting permanent representative to the UN, said at a meeting of the Security Council on Monday.
“It is a direct assault on Somalia’s internationally recognized borders and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law.”
Jadoon said Israel’s move is alarming, especially when Somalia seems to be showing encouraging progress on its political and institutional trajectory.
“This positive momentum must be protected and reinforced, not undermined by actions that risk fragmenting the country and reversing hard-won progress,” he said.
Jadoon pointed to Israel’s previous references to Somaliland as a destination for deported Palestinians, especially from Gaza, saying Tel Aviv’s recognition of the region in this context is “deeply troubling.”
It said Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land has been a source of conflict in the Middle East, noting that it was now exporting this “destabilizing conduct” to the Horn of Africa.
“Pakistan unequivocally rejects any proposals or plans aimed at the forced displacement of Palestinians,” Jadoon said. “Any actions that advocate or imply displacement or resettlement not only violate international law but also undermine the prospect of a just and lasting peace.”
He said Islamabad stands firmly with the government of Somalia as it attempts to uphold peace and ensure progress in the country.
“In conclusion, Pakistan calls upon the Security Council and the broader international community to speak with one voice and reject all actions that undermine Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity,” Jadoon added.
