Nations have rushed to ban flights from the region after the World Health Organisation on Friday declared the B.1.1.529 strain discovered recently in South Africa ”a variant of concern” and renamed it Omicron.The move puts it up there with the globally-dominant Delta variant and its predecessors Alpha, Beta and Gamma variants.Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Health Minister Greg Hunt have met this morning with Secretary of the Department of Health Brendan Murphy and Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly to discuss a response to the development with an announcement expected later today.Australia does not at present have any direct flights from southern Africa but is expected to announce changes to rules for travellers who have been in Southern Africa as a precautionary measure.The Uk’s chief medical adviser to its Health and Security Agency has described the Omicron variant as the “most worrying we’ve seen” with higher transmission levels previously seen. On Saturday President Joe Biden announced the US will restrict entry to citizens eight southern African countries as a “precautionary” move.NED-5052-Covid-19-super-variantThe move came after the WHO announcement triggered the biggest sell-off of US shares in a year.President Biden’s decision follows the UK and European Union to restrict flights from the region.The ban will apply to entry from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi with most non-U.S. citizens who have been in those countries within the prior 14 days barred from entering the US.The move has been condemned by the South African Government.james.campbell@news.com.au
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