US, Brazil, Saudi Arabia latest to restrict travel from African countries as new COVID variant raises concern

US, Brazil, Saudi Arabia latest to restrict travel from African countries as new COVID variant raises concern

New Delhi : A number of countries including the US, Saudi Arabia and Brazil have announced travel restrictions on southern African countries as a new variant of the coronavirus has been detected on the continent. This comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has named the new COVID-19 variant B. 1. 1. 529, which has been detected in South Africa, as 'Omicron' and alarmed the siren among countries of the new variant. US President Biden said that starting Monday, his administration will restrict air travel from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi as a "precautionary" measure to prevent the newly discovered Omicron variant of the coronavirus from spreading into the United States. The US administration is still gathering more information on the variant, according to Biden, who also urged Americans and people around the world to get vaccinated against the virus. The announcement came on the heels of similar restrictions announced by other countries including Britain, Canada and France. South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla on Friday termed the countries' decision of imposing restrictions on travellers from the country amid concerns over the detection of the 'Omicron' COVID-19 variant as 'unjustified' and said there is no