A rising listing of nations, together with the UK and Singapore, impose restrictions on travellers from southern Africa.
A rising listing of nations, together with the UK, Israel and Singapore, have imposed journey restrictions after the invention of a brand new coronavirus variant in South Africa.
Scientists have expressed considerations that the brand new pressure could possibly be extra immune to vaccines and will unfold extra simply.
European and Asian international locations tightened journey necessities on Friday after a brand new coronavirus variant, recognized as B.1.1.529, was detected in South Africa.
The Israeli well being ministry mentioned on Friday it had detected the nation’s first case of the brand new coronavirus variant in a traveller who returned from Malawi. The traveller and two different suspected circumstances have been positioned in isolation. It mentioned all three are vaccinated however that it’s at present trying into their actual vaccination standing.
In the meantime, the World Well being Group (WHO) has cautioned in opposition to imposing new journey restrictions.
“WHO recommends that international locations continued to use a risk-based and a scientific method when implementing journey measures … implementing journey measures is being cautioned in opposition to,” spokesman Christian Lindmeier advised reporters in Geneva on Friday.
The WHO mentioned that it’s going to take a couple of weeks to find out precisely how transmissible the brand new variant is.
“Researchers are working to know extra in regards to the mutations and what they doubtlessly imply for the way transmissible or virulent this variant is,” the WHO spokesman mentioned, as WHO specialists started a digital assembly to find out whether or not B.1.1.529 ought to be categorized as a variant of curiosity or of concern.
BioNTech assessing vaccine in opposition to new pressure
BioNTech mentioned on Friday it was finding out how properly the coronavirus vaccine it developed with Pfizer protects in opposition to the brand new variant.
“We count on extra information from the laboratory checks in two weeks on the newest. These information will present extra details about whether or not B.1.1.529 could possibly be an escape variant which will require an adjustment of our vaccine if the variant spreads globally,” a BioNTech spokesperson mentioned.
A complete of about 50 confirmed circumstances have additionally been recognized in South Africa, Hong Kong and Botswana. The confirmed circumstances in Botswana and Hong Kong had been detected amongst travellers from South Africa.
Britain introduced that it was banning flights from South Africa and 5 different southern African international locations efficient at midday (12:00 GMT) on Friday and that anybody who had lately arrived from these international locations could be requested to take a coronavirus take a look at and to quarantine.
Al Jazeera’s Fahmida Miller, reporting from Johannesburg, mentioned “southern African international locations rely upon tourism and commerce” and the brand new restrictions had been crushing hopes forward of the vacation season.
South Africa lately obtained its removing from a UK purple listing. “There may be definitely concern on the a part of the South African authorities, which mentioned this ban has been rushed,” Miller mentioned.
South Africa will converse to British authorities to attempt to get them to rethink their ban, the International Ministry in Pretoria mentioned. “Our instant concern is the injury that this determination will trigger to each the tourism industries and companies of each international locations,” International Minister Naledi Pandor mentioned in an announcement.
The 27-nation EU bloc additionally mentioned it could think about new restrictions because it battles a fourth spike of the coronavirus pandemic.
EU Fee President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned in an announcement that she “proposes, in shut coordination with the member states, to activate the emergency brake to cease air journey from the southern African area.”
Italy’s well being ministry introduced measures to ban entry into Italy of anybody who has been in seven southern African nations – South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini – up to now 14 days.
The Netherlands is planning comparable measures.
German Well being Minister Jens Spahn mentioned airways getting back from South Africa will solely be capable of transport German residents dwelling, and travellers might want to go into quarantine for 14 days whether or not they’re vaccinated or not.
Germany has seen new document each day case numbers in current days and handed the mark of 100,000 deaths from COVID-19 on Thursday.