A host of countries are imposing travel restrictions on southern African countries to try to contain a new coronavirus variant. Dutch officials are checking for the new variant after 61 people on two flights from South Africa tested positive for COVID-19.
A host of countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada Iran, Japan, Thailand and the United States, joined others, including the European Union and the U.K. in impose restrictions on southern African countries in response to warnings over the transmissability of the new variant — against the advice of the World Health Organization.
Nearly two years on since the start of the pandemic that has claimed more than 5 million lives around the world, countries are on high alert. The 539 travelers who tested negative were allowed to return home or continue their journeys to other countries. Under government regulations, those who live in the Netherlands and are allowed to return home must self-isolate for at least five days.
A number of pharmaceutical firms, including AstraZeneca, Moderna, Novavax and Pfizer, said they have plans in place to adapt their vaccines in light of the emergence of omicron.
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