More countries announce travel bans for southern Africa
The
European Union will propose banning travel from southern Africa following the
discovery of a new Covid-19 variant that scientists fear could torpedo efforts
to beat the pandemic, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday.
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.
Germany will ban most travel from South Africa to halt the spread of a new Covid-19 variant with a large number of mutations, acting Health Minister Jens Spahn said Friday.
The new rules, starting Friday night, will affect South Africa and "probably neighbouring nations", Spahn said, with only German nationals allowed entry. They must quarantine 14 days upon arrival even if vaccinated. "The last thing we need now is an introduced new variant that causes even more problems," Spahn said.
Italy said Friday it was banning 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.
LISTEN: Breakfast with Martin Bester spoke with Dr Richard Lessells, an Infectious Diseases Specialist, about the new variant and what South Africans can expect. Listen below.
Italy's 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".
Singapore will restrict arrivals from seven African countries, health officials said Friday, after South Africa discovered a new Covid-19 variant with a large number of mutations.
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 said.
The new restrictions, which will take effect from Sunday, apply to South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, the ministry said.
Singapore
citizens and foreigners holding permanent resident status in the
city-state of 5.5 million arriving from those countries can still enter,
but will have to undergo a 10-day quarantine.
Singapore currently has no cases of the new variant, but officials are seeking to "take the necessary precautions to reduce the risks" of it spreading to the country, the ministry said.
The city-state has had a mild outbreak of Covid-19, reporting almost 260,000 cases and 681 deaths.
Scientists in South Africa announced the discovery of the variant, which goes by the label B.1.1.529, on Thursday, and are blaming it for a surge in infections.
In response, Britain announced a ban on travel from six southern African countries.
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