The new strain has been detected in South Africa, where it has spread rapidly. Brussels has also proposed banning flights from South Africa over that highly mutable new variant.
The United Kingdom and Israel announced on Thursday travel restrictions from several countries in southern Africa due to the detection in South Africa of a new variant of the highly mutable covid-19 that has spread rapidly in the country.
The Government of the United Kingdom has issued a statement in which it has informed that from this friday the flights are suspended from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswutini and Zimbabwe, nations that are thus added to the red list indicating the risk of coronavirus.
As of early Sunday morning, the suspension will be lifted by putting into operation a system of quarantine for travelers from these countries in hotel establishments for ten days.
The decision comes after South Africa confirmed on Thursday the detection of a new variant of the coronavirus, identified as B.1.1.529, which has multiple mutations and that it has aroused “concern” among specialists because it could make current vaccines less effective, although its impact has yet to be studied.
For its part, the Government of Israel has included South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini In the list of countries whose travelers are prohibited from entering, the Prime Minister’s office, Naftali Bennett, pointed out after a special meeting.
Foreigners from these countries can no longer travel to Israel from those areas, and returning Israelis must be quarantined for up to 14 days in a coronavirus hotel. After a week they can leave if they test negative in a PCR test, while, if they refuse, they will have to remain in quarantine in the accommodation for two weeks.
Europe
The European Comission has also proposed this Friday stop air traffic from southern Africa to prevent the expansion in Europe of a new variant of covid-19.
“The European Commission will propose, in close coordination with the member states, activate the emergency brake to stop air traffic from the South African region for the variant of concern B.1.1.529 “, the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced on her Twitter account.
In total, so far, cases of this variant have been confirmed in South Africa, Hong Kong (in a traveler from the African nation) and neighboring Botswana, according to data provided by the South African National Institute of Infectious Diseases.
In total, B.1.1.529 has more than thirty mutations and some of them are, according to South African scientists, cause for concern due to its possible impact on transmissibility and its potential ability to evade previous immunity or protection.
On the other hand, the Government of Morocco has agreed this Thursday the suspension of air connections with France, an average that will come into force this Sunday and with which Rabat responds to the increase in covid-19 cases in the European country.
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