Hours after scientists in South Africa detected a new Covid-19 variant with a large number of mutations, panic gripped countries as they were finally coming out of economic distress triggered due to the pandemic. An expert has described the variant as “the worst one we have seen so far”, and there is concern it has the potential to evade immunity.
The variant goes by the scientific label B.1.1.529, and the World Health Organization may give it a Greek variant name- like the dominant Delta strain soon. The WHO said it is “closely monitoring” the reported variant and is expected to meet on Friday to determine if it should be designated a variant of “interest” or of “concern”.
This comes after the number of daily infections in Africa’s hardest-hit country had increased tenfold since the start of the month. Alarmed by the alert, several countries have announced fresh travel curbs, quarantine and vaccination rules for passengers travelling from and via these South African countries.
Here’s a list of countries that have issued fresh curbs:
United Kingdom
As soon as scientists alerted about the new variant, the United Kingdom announced fresh travel curbs from several southern African countries and stated that passengers will have to undergo a mandatory quarantine. UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said from 12:00 GMT on Friday six countries would be added to the red list, with flights being temporarily banned. Scientists have said the variant could be more infectious than Delta and more resistant to current vaccines. However, no cases have been confirmed in the UK as of now.
Italy
Authorities in Italy banned entry to those who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia or Swaziland in the past fortnight due to fears over a new coronavirus variant. Health Minister Roberto Speranza said scientists were studying the new B.1.1.529 variant, “and in the meantime, we will follow the path of maximum caution”.
Germany
Germany joined Britain in banning most travel from South Africa as governments scramble to prevent the spread of a new Covid-19 variant with a large number of mutations. In a sign of the growing alarm, the European Union separately proposed prohibiting travel from southern Africa.
Singapore
Singapore will restrict arrivals from seven African countries, health officials said. All non-Singaporeans and people without permanent residency in the city-state who have recent travel history to the seven countries will be barred from entering or transiting through Singapore, the health ministry added. The fresh curbs will be effective from Sunday.
Scotland
Scotland is following the UK government’s decision, with anyone arriving from the six countries having to self-isolate and take two PCR tests, while hotel quarantine will be in place from 04:00 GMT on Saturday.
European Union
Citing the new variant, the European Union said it will propose banning travel from southern African countries. Scientists fear that it could torpedo efforts to beat the pandemic, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said. The EU’s executive “will propose, in close coordination with member states, to activate the emergency brake to stop air travel from the southern African region due to the variant of concern B.1.1.529,” Von der Leyen tweeted.
Later, the presidency of the EU said European Union states have agreed to suspend temporarily travel to southern Africa after the detection of a new COVID-19 variant.
A committee of health experts from all 27 EU states “agreed on the need to activate the #emergency break & impose temporary restriction on all travel into EU from southern Africa,” the Slovenian presidency of the EU said on Twitter.
An EU source told Reuters the restrictions would apply to South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
France
France suspended all flights coming from southern Africa for 48 hours, French Health Minister Olivier Veran told journalists on Friday in reaction to a new coronavirus variant detected in some African countries. Speaking to news agency Reuters, Veran said the new variant had not yet been “diagnosed” in Europe and added that all passengers who recently arrived from the region will be tested and closely monitored.
Australia
Australia on November 27 imposed new restrictions on people who have been to nine southern African countries – South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, the Seychelles, Malawi and Mozambique. Effective immediately, the government will ban non-citizens who have been in those countries from entering and will require supervised 14-day quarantines for Australian citizens and their dependents returning from the countries, said Health Minister Greg Hunt. Anyone who has already arrived in Australia and who has been in any of those countries within the past 14 days must immediately isolate and be tested.
United States
The United States will restrict travel from South Africa – where the new mutation was discovered – and neighbouring countries effective November 29, a senior Biden administration official said. “The WHO has identified a new COVID variant which is spreading through Southern Africa. As a precautionary measure until we have more information, I am ordering air travel restrictions from South Africa and seven other countries,” Biden said in a tweet.
Canada
Canada is closing its borders to travelers who have recently been to seven southern African nations to help stop the spread of a newly identified variant of COVID-19, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos told reporters on November 26. Government ministers also said testing will be mandatory for all Canadians who have travelled to southern Africa in the last 14 days. They will be tested on arrival and must quarantine until they get a negative test result.
Saudi Arabia
The Ministry of Interior said it had been decided to suspend flights from and to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini, based on the continuous follow-up of the epidemiological situation and concerns health authorities in the Kingdom have raised about the emergence of the mutated strain of the virus in a number of countries, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Entry to the Kingdom is suspended for non-nationals who come directly and indirectly from the aforementioned countries. Exceptions include those who have spent a period of no less than 14 days in another country from which health procedures in the Kingdom allow entry, in accordance with the approved health procedures. A period of five days quarantine will be applied to all excluded groups coming from these countries, including citizens of the Kingdom, regardless of the status of immunization.
Japan
Starting Saturday, travellers who have recently been to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa or Zimbabwe will be requested for a 10-day quarantine period in a government-designated facility upon their arrivals, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno announced at a press conference. After leaving the government-designated facility, travellers will also need to spend four more days in quarantine at home to ensure they are not infected. The earlier rule allowed them to spend all 14 days at home, Xinhua news agency reported.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka will ban entry to most travellers from six southern African countries from November 28, healthcare authorities said here on Saturday. With effect from Sunday, arrivals from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini are required to undergo mandatory quarantine, a circular from the Director General of Health Services said.
Thailand
Thailand on November 27 said it would ban entry of people travelling from eight African countries it designated as high-risk for the new B 1.1.529 COVID-19 variant, a senior health official said. Starting in December, travel from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, will be prohibited, the official told a news conference.
Oman
Oman has suspended entry to travellers from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini starting from Nov. 28 due to the spread of a new variant of COVID-19 discovered in South Africa, the country’s state news agency said in a tweet on November 27.
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