A new variant of Covid from Africa is raising travel concerns, and travellers from several South African countries will have to quarantine amid warnings over a new variant that seems to be the worst yet.
Sajid Javid, the UK Health Secretary, said that six countries would be added to the travel red list due to a new variant of Covid found in the African continent, with flights being temporarily banned from 12:00 GMT on Friday.
The new variant of Covid, known as B.1.1.529, is described as “the worst one we’ve seen so far,” stated an expert, and there is concern it has the potential to elude immunity.
However, no cases have been confirmed in the UK, and 59 confirmed cases have been identified in South Africa, Hong Kong, and Botswana. All flights coming into the UK from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini are temporarily suspended.
Sajid Javid, the UK Health Secretary, said that scientists were “deeply concerned” and must be thoroughly examined. The new variant of Covid shows a notable number of mutations, maybe even double the number of mutations seen in the Delta variant.
He added that this new variant from Africa could be more transmissible, and the current vaccines might be less effective.
The six countries added to the travel red list are about being cautious and protecting the UK borders. And from 12:00 on Friday, non-UK and Irish residents will be banned from entering England if they have been to these six countries in the past 10 days. Nevertheless, any British or Irish resident arriving from the countries after 04:00 on Sunday will have to quarantine in a hotel. Travellers who are returning before that to isolate at home. And those who returned in the last 10 days should take a PCR test by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Plus, the ban on flights will remain the same until the hotel quarantine system is up and running.
Scientists in South Africa are trying to understand the mutations of the new variant of Covid. World Health Organization (WHO) experts plan to meet South African officials on Friday to assess the evolving situation in the country.
The new variant of Covid, which has been named a new variant under investigation by the UKHSA, is heavily mutated. The confirmed cases are primarily clustered in one province in South Africa.
Prof Ravi Gupta from the University of Cambridge said the new variant could evade immunity and increase infectivity. And Prof Neil Ferguson from the Imperial College London said the new variant of Covid seemed to be rapidly rising in case numbers in South Africa and the move to restrict travel was reasonable.
Each UK nation has its own travel policy. However, they have generally followed the same rules for past statements.
Scotland follows the UK government’s decision, with anyone arriving from the six countries should self-isolate and take two PCR tests, while hotel quarantine will be in place from 04:00 GMT on Saturday.
Fully vaccinated people travelling to the UK do not need to take a Covid test before setting off but must take a lateral flow test two days after arrival and fill out a passenger locator form.
Those who are not fully vaccinated and over 18 should self-isolate for 10 days at home and take a Covid test in the three days before travelling and on day two and day eight of their return.
