The South African government says the restrictions penalize its advanced ability to detect variants faster than other countries.
The number of countries that try to shield themselves against omicron, the new variant of coronavirus, is increasing with the ban on flights from the southern African nations where it is believed to already circulate. In the last hours, the United Kingdom detected two cases of infection by this variant in people “related to trips to South Africa” and it is presumed that it would have already reached Germany.
Meanwhile, the South African Government feels “punished”, since it considers that the restrictions on flights from its territory in the background what they do is penalize its advanced ability to detect variants faster than others.
The omicron variant, which has led many countries to suspend flights to southern Africa, worries the World Health Organization (WHO) due to the high number of mutations it presents, since in just two weeks about thirty have been detected, with confirmed cases not only in South Africa but also in neighboring Botswana, Hong Kong or Belgium.
At least 61 passengers on two flights from South Africa have tested positive for coronavirus tonight after landing in Amsterdam, where they underwent a PCR upon arrival in the Netherlands when the ban on flights from southern African countries came into force , although it is still being studied whether they carry the new omicron variant.
A medical team went to Amsterdam airport, where a flight from Johannesburg and another from Cape Town had landed, to subject its 600 passengers to a test, in application of a Dutch restriction on air traffic from southern Africa due to fears to the new strain.
The infected passengers are isolated in a hotel near the airport, while it is analyzed if they are with the new variant.
Although the Minister of Health, Hugo de Jonge, has stressed that the new mutation had not yet been officially detected in the Netherlands, he did say that, from what is known of other variants, the situation can change quickly and therefore it is necessary to “slow down the arrival of this variant as much as possible”.
In Germany they are also alert: the omicron variant has most likely already arrived in the country, according to the Minister of Social Affairs of the federal state of Hesse, Kai Klose, because characteristic mutations have been detected in a traveler from southern Africa.
“A traveler from South Africa had several characteristic omicron mutations last night. There is therefore a high suspicion. The person in question is in home isolation,” said the minister.
Countries are shielded
More countries continue to join the EU and the US in restricting travel from the southern African area where the new variant is believed to be circulating.
Australia announced this Saturday that it will restrict entry into its territory to travelers who have visited nine African countries in the last two weeks.
The Ministry of Health indicated in a statement that the measure, of immediate application, supposes the prohibition of entry into the country for non-Australian travelers or residents who have visited South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland in the last 14 days. , Malawi, Mozambique or the Seychelles Islands.
“If the medical tests show that more action is needed, we will not hesitate to take it. And that could mean tightening or expanding the restrictions,” Health Minister Greg Hunt told the media.
Also Turkey. Due to the increase in cases of the new variant of the coronavirus, “entry permission will not be given as of tonight to those who arrive in our country by land, sea, air or rail from Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe” Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted.
Khairy Jamaluddin, Malaysia’s Minister of Health, announced on his Twitter account that from this Saturday Malaysians will not be able to travel to South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Sualizandia and Mozambique, and that non-national or resident travelers who who have entered those countries in the last 14 days are prohibited from entering the country.
The Government of Brazil reported this Friday that it will close its air borders starting next Monday to travelers from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), as explained by the Minister of the Presidency, Ciro Nogueira.
In addition to Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala have announced that they are restricting travel to southern African countries.
South Africa feels grounded
The South African government affirmed this Saturday that the cascade of drastic international bans after the detection of the omicron variant is “like punishing” the country for its advanced scientific surveillance.
“This latest round of travel bans is like punishing South Africa for its advanced genomic sequencing and its ability to detect variants faster. Excellent science should be applauded, not punished, ”the South African Executive stressed this Saturday through a statement from its Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation. (I)
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