Biden announced air travel curbs to contain the infections of the new Omicron variant
President Joe Biden announced the United States will restrict travel from South Africa and seven other countries after a new coronavirus variant named Omicron discovered was labelled as a “variant of concern” by WHO.
The new restrictions will take effect on November 29. The travel restrictions do not ban flights or apply to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
United States in restricting travel from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi.
No cases of new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa have been identified in the United States to date, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Biden said the administration “will continue to be guided by what the science and my medical team advises” as the announced travel curbs after his meeting with chief medical advisor, Dr. Tony Fauci, and the members of our COVID response team, about the Omicron variant.
“The news about this new variant should make clearer than ever why this pandemic will not end until we have global vaccinations” Biden said.
He also urged the Americans who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to get a booster shot as soon as they are eligible. Boosters are approved for all adults over 18, six months past their vaccination and are available at 80,000 locations coast-to-coast. He also asked those who are not yet fully vaccinated to get vaccinated. “If you have not gotten vaccinated, or have not taken your children to get vaccinated, now is the time.”
Scientific experts at the World Health Organization have warned that a new coronavirus variant discovered in southern Africa was a “variant of concern.” The named Omicron variant carries a number of genetic mutations that may allow it to spread quickly. Scientists said it will take more research to determine the vaccine’s effectiveness against the new variant.
