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05 January 2023
TO:COVID-19(23)01

LABOUR AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
ALL MEMBERS & ASSOCIATE MEMBERSBIWEEKLY MEMBERS MEETING PARTICIPANTS
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION GROUP PARTICIPANTS

COVID-19 UPDATE AS OF 5 JANUARY 2023
Action Required: Globally, as of 4 January 2023, there have been 655,689,115
confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 6,671,624 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 22
December 2022, a total of 13,073,712,554 vaccine doses have been administered.
SITUATION IN NUMBERS BY WHO REGION

GlobalAmericas

Cases
655,689,115
186,226,373

Deaths6,671,624
2,890,955

EuropeSouth-East Asia
Eastern Mediterranean
AfricaWestern Pacific270,009,126
60,738,713
23,223,876
9,447,530
106,042,733

2,158,171
803,247
349,102175,242
294,894

TOP 6 COUNTRIES
123456USAEurope
South-East Asia
Eastern Mediterranean
Western Pacific
AfricaMOST CASESYESTERDAY
Germany
RussiaChile
FranceAustria
IsraelHIGH FATALITIESYESTERDAY
FranceRussia
Estonia
Germany
Denmark
Croatia

Covid Update UK: Covid 'Kraken' variant is ripping through the UK

The new Covid variant is called the XBB.1.5. It is an offshoot from the Omicron XBB. Alreadyin over 70 countries, including the US and UK, the Covid variant has "concerning" mutations.
Some of the mutations mean that it's more likely to be able to evade immunity, from previous
infections and from immunisation. It is "more likely" to be able to evade immunity granted byvaccinations.
However, while the variant is "one to watch", especially as it gains traction in the UK, there
is little to suggest that it could lead to more severe illness. Nicknamed the "Kraken" variant,data from the Welcome Sanger Institute show that this strain represents half of all therecorded cases in Wirral last week.
The variant has also been recorded in:•Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire•

Tower Hamlets, London•Cornwall•Stoke-on-Trent.

Scientists are reportedly concerned about Kraken's mutations, such as F486P and S486P.
These mutations are thought to improve its transmissibility, which could mean it has thepotential to become the most dominant strain in the UK. The latest government data on
Covid demonstrates that the number of Covid infections, hospitalisations, and deaths wascreeping up before the Christmas break. The latest figures from the government are yet tobe released, which will reveal the UK's current Covid status.
Covid Update Japan:
Due to the vast amount of Covid-19 cases, the Japanese government decided to conduct
PCR tests at airports for travellers who stayed in China during the last seven days (from 30December onwards).
For seafarers, if the test results are "Positive”•••

they must stay in a designated accommodation for 7 days of isolation.
they must take a test on the fifth day.
If the test is negative, they can be released on the sixth day.

During this period of isolation, if the ship leaves Japan, they must return to China or theirhome countries without permission to entry into Japan.
The Japanese government needs all passengers who come directly from China (HKG andMacau are excluded) to possess a COVID-19 certificate (Negative certificate) within 72
hours before departure (effective from 00:00 on 8 January in JST).
Ondrilla Fernandes
Employment Affairs Advisor