The World Health Organization is urging world leaders not to react too rashly to a new variant of the coronavirus that has been found in South Africa.
Several countries, including the U.S., have already announced new travel bans, targeting African countries in a bid to help curb the spread of the new B.1.1.529 strain, named Omicron.
The variant has already been also detected in Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Belgium, Botswana, Israel, Australia and Hong Kong. Though the strain was discovered in South Africa, its origin has not been determined.
WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti told CNN that “putting in place travel bans that target Africa attacks global solidarity. Covid-19 constantly exploits our divisions. We will only get the better of the virus if we work together for solutions,” Moeti added.
Senior administration officials said the U.S. would restrict travel from South Africa, along with seven other African countries—Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi, as have the European Union, barring Malawi. Britain has restricted travel with those eight countries as well as Angola, Mozambique and Zambia.
Despite the organization asking world leaders to not be hasty with their travel restrictions, they also suggest that the chance of reinfection is higher with the Omicron strain.
“This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning,” the group said in a statement. “Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other VOCs. The number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all provinces in South Africa.”
The statement adds, “Individuals are reminded to take measures to reduce their risk of COVID-19, including proven public health and social measures such as wearing well-fitting masks, hand hygiene, physical distancing, improving ventilation of indoor spaces, avoiding crowded spaces, and getting vaccinated.”
