Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2022
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This article documents the chronology of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2022, which originated in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Some developments may become known or fully understood only in retrospect. Reporting on this pandemic began in December 2019.
Reactions and measures in the United Nations
[edit]Reactions and measures in Africa
[edit]Reactions and measures in the Americas
[edit]13 January
[edit]- The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has blocked United States President Joe Biden's vaccine and testing mandate for workplaces with at least 100 workers by a 6-3 majority. In addition, the Supreme Court upheld a vaccine mandate for healthcare workers at hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs by a 5-4 majority.[1][2]
Reactions and measures in the Eastern Mediterranean
[edit]7 January
[edit]- The Israeli Health Ministry has eliminated its "red list" of countries with high-infection rates on the grounds that travel bans have failed to stop the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant domestically.[3]
Reactions and measures in Europe
[edit]16 January
[edit]- The French Parliament has approved several new measures to combat COVID-19 including requiring people to have a vaccine pass to enter public places such as restaurants, cafes, cinemas and long-distance trains.[4]
Reactions and measures in South, East and Southeast Asia
[edit]4 January
[edit]The Chinese city of Yuzhou has entered into a lockdown following the discovery of three asymptomatic cases.[5]
12 January
[edit]- Malaysian Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin confirmed that travellers entering the country who are fully vaccinated and have previously contracted Covid-19 do not need to undergo mandatory quarantine.[6]
19 January
[edit]- Malaysian National Unity Minister Halimah Mohamed Sadique announced that house visits and family reunions would be allowed for Chinese New Year. While open houses would not be allowed, functions could proceed on an invitation basis.[7]
21 January
[edit]- Health Minister Khairy announced that travelers who had received their booster doses would only be required to undergo a five day quarantine period from 24 January.[8]
Reactions and measures in the Western Pacific
[edit]2 January
[edit]- The Fijian Health Ministry's Permanent Secretary Dr James Fong confirmed that the Government would be avoiding "population blanket" measures such as lockdowns to combat the third wave of COVID-19, citing their adverse impact on the community. Instead, the Fijian Government would be focusing on vaccination, masking, physical distancing, social gathering limits, and hand hygiene.[9]
4 January
[edit]- The Fijian Health Ministry revised the country's quarantine and isolation policies to require COVID-19 positive healthcare workers to self-isolate for seven days before resuming work.[10]
9 January
[edit]- The Fijian Minister for Trade and Commerce Faiyaz Koya has announced that informal gatherings in homes, communities, and community halls would be limited to 20 people from 10 January.[11] In addition, the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport (MCTTT) introduced several new fines to counter the Omicron variant including fines for individuals failing to wear face masks and fines for businesses failing to maintain records or have QR codes for scanning.[12]
- Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has delayed the reopening of schools in the Australian state of Queensland until 7 February due to rising Omicron cases.[13]
10 January
[edit]- Kiribati reopened its borders to international travellers, which had been closed since March 2020.[14][15]
17 January
[edit]- The New Zealand Government launched its vaccination drive of children aged between five and 11 years old. That same day, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the country would move to a red traffic light setting in response to Omicron community transmissions.[16]
18 January
[edit]- COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins postponed the next MIQ (Managed Isolation and Quarantine) lottery due to an increase in imported Omicron cases.[17][18]
19 January
[edit]- Following an outbreak resulting from a commercial flight, the Kiribati Government imposed a nationwide curfew and mandated the wearing of face masks.[19]
20 January
[edit]- The New Zealand Government lowered the Northland Region's traffic light setting from red to orange in response to rising vaccination rates.[20][21]
22 January
[edit]- Kiribati entered into a four-day nationwide lockdown following confirmed COVID-19 community transmissions. In addition, a 24-hour curfew was imposed on non-essential services, with exceptions being made for essential food providers.[22]
- In response to an outbreak at the border, the Samoan Government imposed a 48-hour lockdown on the country from 6pm on Friday (21 January) to Monday (24 January). Under this state of emergency, all residents except for essential workers were required to stay at home. Businesses, schools and restaurants were closed while travel and mass gatherings were banned.[23][24]
23 January
[edit]- The New Zealand Government placed the entire country under a red traffic light setting from 11:59 pm that night in response to Omicron community cases in the Nelson, New Zealand–Marlborough Region.[25][26]
25 January
[edit]- The New Zealand Government has announced that workers covered by the country's vaccine mandate will be required to wear surgical-grade or N95 face masks instead of cloth face masks and improvised masks such as scarfs, bandannas, and T-shirts.[27]
- Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa extended Samoa's lockdown until 27th January after five frontline nurses tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, the Government allowed certain businesses and services including petrol and cashpower outlets, banks, money transfer services, and chemists to open for limited hours between 8am and 2 pm.[28]
28 January
[edit]- The Kiribati Government extended the country's lockdown for another week in response to rising community cases.[29]
29 January
[edit]- The Samoan Government lifted the country's lockdown due to a lack of community transmission. Workplaces and businesses will be allowed to reopen while public gatherings will be limited to 30 people. Only cargo flights will be allowed to enter Samoa.[30]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ de Vogue, Arianne (13 January 2022). "Supreme Court blocks nationwide vaccine and testing mandate for large businesses, allows health care worker vaccine mandate to take effect". CNN. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ Sherman, Natalie (13 January 2022). "US Supreme Court blocks Biden's workplace vaccine mandate". BBC News. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Israel nixes 'red' list of countries ahead of reopening to foreigners on Sunday". The Times of Israel. 7 January 2021. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
- ^ Thomas, Leigh (16 January 2021). "France approves COVID-19 vaccine pass in face of protests". Global News. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Yuzhou: Second Chinese city forced into Covid lockdown". BBC News. 4 January 2021. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ "Covid-19: Recently infected vaccinated travellers exempt from Malaysia quarantine". The Straits Times. 12 January 2022. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ Hassan, Hazlin (19 January 2022). "Covid-19 rules eased in Malaysia to allow for CNY reunion dinners, house visits". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ "Malaysia shortens quarantine period for travellers with Covid-19 booster shots to five days". The Straits Times. 21 January 2022. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ "Ministry to avoid population blanket measures". FBC News. Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. 2 January 2022. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ Uluwai, Kirisitiana (4 January 2021). "Ministry revises protocols". FBC News. Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ Kumar, Kreetika (9 January 2022). "Limit placed on informal gatherings". FBC News. Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
- ^ Kumar, Kreetika (9 January 2022). "MCTTT announces fines". FBC News. Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
- ^ "'Biggest test': Queensland delays school year by two weeks due to Omicron outbreak". The Guardian. 9 January 2021. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
- ^ "In brief: News from around the Pacific: Kiribati's border reopens". Radio New Zealand. 14 January 2022. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ Chumko, André (18 January 2022). "Covid-19: Curfew in Kiribati after first commercial flight in almost two years brings in 40 cases -report". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ "COVID-29: Omicron outbreak would push New Zealand back to red traffic light setting, says Jacinda Ardern". Radio New Zealand. 17 January 2022. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "Government postpones next MIQ lottery due to spike of Omicron cases at the border". Radio New Zealand. 18 January 2022. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ McClure, Tess (19 January 2022). "New Zealand closes borders to new arrivals over 'unprecedented' Omicron risk". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ Chumko, André (19 January 2022). "Covid-19: Kiribati confirms 37 cases, makes mask-wearing mandatory". Stuff. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
- ^ Piper, Denise (20 January 2022). "Covid-19: Northland to move to orange traffic light setting on Thursday night". Stuff. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ Ardern, Jacinda (20 January 2022). "Northland to move to Orange, NZ prepared for Omicron". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ "Kiribati heading into lockdown as Covid emerges in the community". Radio New Zealand. 22 January 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ Treisman, Rachel (22 January 2022). "Kiribati and Samoa implement rare lockdowns after travelers test positive". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ "Samoa announces lockdown from 6pm tonight until 6pm on Monday". Radio New Zealand. 22 January 2022. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ Ardern, Jacinda (23 January 2022). "New Zealand to move to Red from 11.59pm today". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ "New Zealand adds new restrictions and Ardern delays her wedding as omicron spreads". National Public Radio. Associated Press. 23 January 2022. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ Manch, Thomas (25 January 2022). "'No more scarfs, bandannas': Government to require N95 or surgical masks for workers under vaccine mandates". Stuff. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ "Samoa extends Covid-19 lockdown another 72 hours". Radio New Zealand. 25 January 2022. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
- ^ "Covid-19: Kiribati extends lockdown as 65 new cases recorded". Radio New Zealand. 28 January 2022. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "Samoa's PM confirms no community transmission as lockdown lifted". Radio New Zealand. 29 January 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.