Morning news brief: Omicron COVID-19 variant, Umrah in Saudi Arabia and more
Follow UsStory highlights
Good morning! Start your day with WION's daily news brief.
The country's first two cases of Omicron have been discovered in Ontario, according to Canada's health minister.South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has now called on countries to "immediately and urgently" reverse these scientifically "unjustified" travel bans. In a welcome move, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday that the kingdom has decided to accept foreign pilgrims.
"I was informed today by the Public Health Agency of Canada that testing and monitoring of Covid-19 cases has confirmed two cases of the Omicron variant of concern in Ontario," Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said in a statement.
After a new Covid variant was detected in South Africa, the global authorities reacted with alarm with several imposing travel curbs and tightening border controls.
Finally, inoculated foreign pilgrims can perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia
In a welcome move, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday that the kingdom has decided to accept foreign pilgrims, who want to perform Umrah in the Grand Mosque of Makkah under the updated coronavirus-related restrictions.
Fashion designer Virgil Abloh dead: Kanye West, BTS, Drake & others share tributes
It is a loss that has shocked the entire world and rightly so as fashion designer Virgil Abloh died a sudden death after battling cancer secretly for some time now.
Watch | Omicron variant raises alarm across the world