Omicron Covid-19 variant prompts these countries to impose travel restrictions?

 Omicron Covid-19 variant prompts these countries to impose travel restrictions?

The discovery of a new variant of Covid-19, first discovered in South Africa, led several countries to impose travel restrictions in at least six African nations. The newly identified variant appears to be spreading rapidly in parts of South Africa, and scientists fear that its unusually high number of mutations could make it more transmissible and lead to immune avoidance. 

So far, cases have been identified in South Africa, Botswana, Hong Kong, Israel and Belgium. The World Health Organization classified it as a “variant of concern” on Friday. 

These are the countries that have announced restrictions so far: 

The cascade of closures began late Thursday, when the UK announced that it would temporarily suspend flights from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini. 

Japan has tightened border controls for travelers from the same 6 countries and introduced a 10-day quarantine beginning at 12 noon on 27 November. Bahrain and Sri Lanka said they would also suspend entry from these countries. Brazil said it would close its air borders with the six.

Pakistanis announced on Saturday that they would close their borders with South Africa, Hong Kong, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho and Botswana. 

EU countries Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Malta have announced all upcoming entry bans for all travelers entering South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini in the past two weeks. Switzerland has also banned all direct flights from the same seven countries. Oman will suspend inbound flights from all seven countries starting Sunday morning. 

Egypt, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Jordan have also announced restrictions for all seven countries. 

Meanwhile, Germany plans to declare South Africa a “variant zone of the virus” starting Friday night, meaning that airlines can only enter from the country to bring back German citizens. 

President Biden announced that the United States will restrict travel from South Africa and seven other countries starting Monday, as a new variant of the coronavirus has emerged, administration officials report to CNN. On the recommendation of Dr. Anthony Fauci and the U.S. In the US, Biden's government will restrict travel from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi. Officials who learned even more about the variant said the policy was implemented out of great caution. 

According to its Health Minister, Canada is taking measures similar to those of the United States. UU.

Greece will only allow major trips from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Eswatini, Zambia and Malawi, the country's Ministry of Health reported Friday. Travelers must obtain special permission from local Greek embassies and diplomatic missions, the ministry said, adding that they will be evaluated upon arrival and taken to quarantine hotels for 10 days. After that, they are tested again. The new measures take effect Saturday at 6 a.m. local time. Australia also prohibits the entry of foreign nationals who have traveled to the nine South African countries in the past 14 days. 

From 1 December, travelers from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe “will not be able to enter Thailand” and will not be able to apply for entry. 

Russia said on Friday it would restrict the entry of citizens from nine countries (South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar, Eswatini, Tanzania), as well as Hong Kong, into their country. 

According to a tweet by Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, Turkey has issued a travel ban from five African countries — Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe — through land, air, sea and rail border crossings since Friday night. 

Colombia's President Ivan Duque Márquez announced on Saturday that all passengers arriving from South Africa must enter quarantine for 15 days. 

Biden again briefed on the latest on Omicron variant

Joe Biden once again reported on the latest developments in the omicron variant President Biden was briefed on the latest developments around his health team's new Omicron variant on Saturday. 

The team is closely monitoring the situation and, according to an official familiar with the situation, is in regular contact with African health officials.