Europe bans flights to South Africa due to new Covid strain

Europe bans flights to South Africa due to new Covid strain 

Europe hastened to ban travel from South Africa on Friday to slow the spread of the new Covid-19 strain, which scientists fear could be torpedoed in efforts to overcome the epidemic.

Global markets plummeted on the news that a newer variant than Delta may be more contagious and more resistant to vaccines.

Scientists are now racing to determine the characteristics and threat of the greatly altered mutation, named B.1.1.529.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that it could take weeks to understand the variance without imposing new travel restrictions.

"The WHO recommends that nations continue to adopt a risk-based and scientific approach when implementing travel activities ... and warns against implementing travel activities," said spokeswoman Christian Lindmeyer.

Europe is already struggling to cope with a new corona virus outbreak, and return restrictions have sparked unrest in some countries.

Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands announced travel bans with Britain on Friday.

Restrictions cover all of South Africa, and some or some of the following: Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

It said it would quickly coordinate the joint action of the 27 member states of the European Union.

Authorities in South Africa said on Thursday that the variant was blamed for "serious concern" and an increase in the number of infections.

It was also found in Botswana and Hong Kong among travelers from South Africa

Israel said it had isolated three people, all vaccinated, identified with a new variant, and one returned from Malawi.

Frightened by the variance, European markets plunged more than three per cent, with airline stocks particularly affected. Tokyo fell 2.53 percent, losing more than three percent in the middle of the day.

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