US stiffens travel rules amid new omicron cases

President Joe Biden has unveiled stricter COVID-19 travel rules as the US confirmed a handful of cases of the omicron variant from coast to coast.

Mr Biden said his plan “does not include shutdowns or lockdowns” and does not expand vaccine mandates.

Cases have been detected in California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York and in Hawaii, where authorities say that person had no recent travel history.

State health officials have reported only mild symptoms in these cases.

The variant has now been found up to 30 countries, according to reports.

It is still not clear whether the highly mutated omicron strain is associated with more transmission or more risk of evading vaccines.