This might get ugly.
A contestant within the Miss Universe pageant has examined optimistic for COVID-19 after arriving in Israel.
She was already totally vaccinated, organizers mentioned.
However the present will go on in Israel, which sealed off its borders to travelers Sunday after the Omicron variant was detected there.
The contaminated contestant was not instantly recognized by pageant organizers, and it was unclear whether or not she had examined optimistic for the Omicron variant.
Organizers mentioned the totally vaccinated girl was examined upon her arrival to Israel and subsequently taken to a government-run lodge to quarantine.
Many of the 80 contestants have already arrived in Israel for the pageant, which is scheduled to start Dec. 12 within the southern metropolis of Eilat, the Miss Universe Group mentioned. Strict COVID-19 protocols have been established for all concerned, the group mentioned.
Israel shut down its borders over the weekend after a traveler from Malawi examined optimistic for the Omicron variant, which was first detected in South Africa however seems to be quickly spreading throughout the globe from Hong Kong to the Netherlands to Canada.
The upcoming pageant has been surrounded by controversy amid calls to boycott the occasion over Israel’s remedy of Palestinians. Malaysia, which helps the Palestinian trigger, mentioned it declined to ship a contestant over COVID-19 considerations.
The at present topped Miss Universe, Andrea Meza of Mexico, advised the Related Press earlier this month in Jerusalem that she believes the competition shouldn’t be politicized.
“Everybody with completely different beliefs, with completely different backgrounds, with completely different cultures, all of them come collectively, and if you end up in there, you overlook about politics, about your faith,” the 27-year-old said. “It’s nearly embracing different ladies.”
Meza, who was topped at a ceremony in Florida in Might, is anticipated to current the crown to this yr’s winner in Eliat.
With Publish Wires
