New COVID-19 variant: Countries that have banned travel to South Africa

Countries across Asia and Europe have announced travel restrictions on Friday after a new variant of the novel Coronavirus – B.1.1.529 was reported from South Africa. The new COVID-19 variant has a “very unusual constellation” of mutations, which are concerning because they could help it evade the body’s immune response and make it more transmissible.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has dubbed Omicron has as a “variant of concern”. This variant is said to be more transmissible or cause more severe disease compared to other variants, including the highly transmissible and globally prevalent Delta variant. The global health watchdog also said that there is no information to suggest that symptoms associated with Omicron are different from those from other variants.

No case of the Omicron variant has been detected in India so far as per the Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya. “This new variant [Omicron] has been found in 14 countries. No case has been detected in India yet. we are taking all possible precautions and doing genome sequencing also,” he said.

Meanwhile, CEO of the US pharma major Moderna Stephane Bancel has warned that Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines are less effective against the Omicron variant when compared to the Delta variant. “There is no world, I think, where (the effectiveness) is the same level… we had with Delta,” Bancel said.

Here’s a list of countries that have banned travel to and/or entry of travellers from South Africa

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and State Department have advised American citizens against travelling to eight South African countries – South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi, Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. The CDC raised its travel recommendation to “Level Four: Very High” for these countries whereas the State Department issued parallel “Do Not Travel” advisories.

THAILAND

Thailand has banned travel to and from Botswana, South Africa, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe due to the high risk of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19. Senior Thai health official Opas Karnkawinpong said, “We have notified airlines and these countries”. He added that travellers from other African countries will not be allowed to avail the quarantine-free travel scheme for vaccinated travellers.

AUSTRALIA

Australia has decided to delay the reopening of its international borders by two weeks after it reported first cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Australian chief health officer has advised the government to delay the reopening after the first few cases of the new variant were reported.

JAPAN

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that Japan is considering stepping up border controls, adding he plans to introduce new measures apart from the current 10-day quarantine requirement for travellers from South Africa and eight other neighbouring countries. The country still has its borders closed for foreign tourists.

MOROCCO

Morrocan Foreign Ministry tweeted that all incoming travel to the North African country would be suspended to “preserve the achievements realised by Morocco in the fight against the pandemic, and to protect the health of citizens.” Morocco has been at the forefront of vaccinations in Africa, and kept its borders closed because of the pandemic.

INDONESIA

Indonesia has banned the entry of travellers who have been in eight African countries and extended quarantine durations for all arrivals to curb the spread of Omicron COVID-19 variant. The ban extends to those who have been in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini, Hong Kong or Nigeria in the past 14 days.

PAKISTAN

Pakistan has banned travel from seven countries – South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Hong Kong, according to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).  The NCOC placed these countries category C which includes nations from where people can travel to Pakistan only under specific guidelines.

HONG KONG

Hong Kong has banned travellers from entering the city from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Angola, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zambia, Australia, Israel, Canada, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Austria, Denmark, Germany and Italy in the past 21 days. Vaccinated residents will have to quarantine for 7 days in a government facility and another 2 weeks in a hotel at their own cost.

EUROPEAN UNION

European Union has halted air travel from the South African region due to the B.1.1.529 variant. EU President Ursula von der Leyen said that she “proposes, in close coordination with the member states, to activate the emergency brake to stop air travel from the southern African region.”

The flight ban proposal comes as the fourth spike in Coronavirus cases is hitting the 27-nation EU badly with governments stretching way beyond their means to contain the spread of this virus.

UNITED KINGDOM

United Kingdom added six African countries – South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana and Namibia to the red list and UK travellers coming from these destinations would have to quarantine. British airline Virgin Atlantic put out a notification saying, “We’re reviewing our South Africa schedule and if your flight or holiday is subject to cancellation, we’ll be in touch with your options, including a refund.”

“COVID-19 UPDATE: UKHSA is investigating a new variant. More data is needed but we’re taking precautions now. From noon tomorrow, six African countries will be added to the red list, flights will be temporarily banned and UK travellers must quarantine,” UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care tweeted.

ISRAEL

Israel has banned its citizens from travelling to South Africa and entry of foreigners due to this variant. Countries such as South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini were added to Israel’s “red” or highest-risk list of countries. Israelis can only travel to these countries of they receive special permission from the health ministry. Citizens returning from these countries have to spend between 7-14 days in a quarantine hotel after arrival.

SINGAPORE

Singapore will restrict entry of people with recent travel history to seven African countries after reports that a potentially more contagious COVID-19 variant may be circulating there. From 11:59 pm on Saturday, all long term pass holders and short-term visitors with travel history within the last 14 days to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe will not be allowed to enter Singapore or transit here.

FRANCE

France has also suspended all its flight operations to and from South Africa for 48 hours, Health Minister Olivier Veran said. He mentioned that while the new hasn’t been “diagnosed” in Europe, all persons who recently arrived from the region will be tested and closely monitored.

GERMANY

Germany has declared South Africa a virus variant area on Friday after the detection of a new COVID-19 variant there and the decision will come into effect from Friday night. This decision will mean airlines will be allowed to fly only Germans to Germany from South Africa and returning Germans will then have to spend 14 days in quarantine.

“Germany will, among other things, declare South Africa a virus variant area. With the entry into force tonight, airlines will only be allowed to transport Germans to, and 14 days of quarantine will apply to everyone, including those who have been vaccinated,” Health Minister Jens Spahn tweeted.

NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was well-prepared for the new variant. She added the country had “a number of inbuilt measures to act as a layer of protection.” “All of our planning around COVID, we have built into it the possibility of variants in the future,” said Ardern.

ITALY

Italy imposed an entry ban on people who have visited a group of southern African states, including South Africa, in the last 14 days. The ban applies to countries like South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland.

Italian Health minister Roberto Speranzsa said that scientists were studying the new B.1.1.529 variant “and in meantime, we will follow the path of maximum caution.”

CZECH REPUBLIC

Czech Republic has announced a ban on entry of citizens of countries who have stayed in countries like South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Zimbabwe among others for more than 12 hours. This will come into effect from Saturday.

“TRAVEL- IMPORTANT. We respond to the spread of a new variant of the virus. From Saturday, entry into the Czech Republic will be prohibited for citizens of third countries who have stayed for more than 12 hours in the last 14 days in South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia,” Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek tweeted.

JAPAN

Japan has tightened border controls for visitors from South Africa and other countries like Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe will have to undergo 10-day quarantine period in government determined accommodation, Reuters reported.

TAIWAN

Taiwan said travellers from "high-risk" southern African countries will have to go into government-run quarantine facilities for 14 days.

(With agency inputs)

Also read: New COVID-19 variant: Govt issues alert over South African strain; 10 points to know

Also read: COVID-19 update: Latest on the worldwide spread of coronavirus

Also read: 'Botswana' Variant: Heavily mutated Coronavirus variant has scientists worried

Also read: Delhi govt calls meeting to discuss threat of new Covid-19 variant