IATA urges countries to follow WHO advice on Omicron

MANILA, Philippines — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged governments to follow the World Health Organization (WHO)’s advice and immediately rescind travel bans that were introduced in response to the Omicron variant.

IATA in a statement called on governments to reconsider all Omicron measures, noting that public health organizations, including the WHO, have advised against travel curbs to contain the spread of the new COVID-19 variant.

“After nearly two years with COVID-19, we know a lot about the virus and the inability of travel restrictions to control its spread. But the discovery of the Omicron variant induced instant amnesia on governments, which implemented knee-jerk restrictions in complete contravention of advice from the WHO – the global expert,” IATA director general Willie Walsh said.

Walsh said the goal is to move away from the “uncoordinated, evidence-absent, risk-unassessed mess that travelers face.”

“As governments agreed at ICAO and in line with the WHO advice, all measures should be time-bound and regularly reviewed. It is unacceptable that rushed decisions have created fear and uncertainty among travelers just as many are about to embark on year-end visits to family or hard-earned vacations,” he said.

IATA said the WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the Omicron variant states that “blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread, and they place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods.”

“In addition, they can adversely impact global health efforts during a pandemic by disincentivizing countries to report and share epidemiological and sequencing data. All countries should ensure that the measures are regularly reviewed and updated when new evidence becomes available on the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Omicron or any other variants of concern,” the WHO said.

Walsh pointed out that it is very challenging to get governments to consider reviewing a measure once it is put in place, let alone remove it, even when there is plenty of evidence pointing in that direction.

He said it is essential that governments commit to a review period when any new measure is introduced.

“If there is an over-reaction—as we believe is the case with Omicron—we must have a way to limit the damage and get back on the right track. And even in more normal circumstances, we must recognize that our understanding of the disease can grow exponentially even in a short period of time. Whatever measures are in place need to be constantly justified against the latest and most accurate scientific knowledge,” Walsh said.

The Philippines’ pandemic task force, for its part, has already stepped up measures to prevent the entry of the Omicron variant into the country, enforcing updated testing and quarantine protocols for arriving passengers from areas not covered by the travel ban beginning last Friday.