UK, Israel restrict travel to 6 African countries due to new COVID strain

The UK is temporarily suspending flights from six countries as a new COVID variant with more than 30 mutations spreads in South Africa, reported from CNBC.

In addition to South Africa, the countries of Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Botswana are included in the new restrictions, according to a statement issued by the UK’s health, transport and health security agencies.

The WHO is holding a special meeting Friday to discuss what the new variant may mean for vaccines and treatments, officials said Thursday.

The variant, called B.1.1.529, has been detected in South Africa in small numbers, according to the WHO. The variant has spread rapidly through the Gauteng province, which contains the country’s largest city of Johannesburg.

The variant has also been detected in Botswana and Hong Kong, South Africa Minister of Health Joe Phaahla said during the briefing.

South African scientists have detected more than 30 mutations in the new variant, raising concern that it could possibly better evade the antibody protection created by vaccines and prior infections.

This is while Israel announced it was barring its citizens from travelling to southern Africa and banning the entry of foreigners from the region, Reuters reports.

South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini were added to Israel’s ‘red,’ or highest-risk, travel list that reflects coronavirus infection rates overseas.

Israelis are banned from travelling to countries on the "red" list, unless they receive special permission from Israel’s health ministry.

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