South Africa’s international ministry mentioned Britain’s choice to ban flights from South Africa due to the detection of a brand new COVID-19 variant “appears to have been rushed”, as even the World Well being Group is but to advise on the following steps.
Scientists have to date solely detected the B.1.1.529 variant in comparatively small numbers in South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong, however they’re involved by its excessive variety of mutations which may assist it evade the physique’s immune response and make it extra transmissible.
Britain on Thursday briefly banned flights from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Eswatini from Friday after its detection was introduced.
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New COVID-19 variant recognized in South Africa has scientists involved
“Our quick concern is the injury that this choice will trigger to each the tourism industries and companies of each international locations,” South Africa’s International Minister Naledi Pandor mentioned in an announcement.
South Africa will have interaction with British authorities to attempt to get them to rethink their choice, the assertion added.
South Africa has requested an pressing sitting of a World Well being Group working group on virus evolution on Friday to debate the brand new variant.
(Reporting by Alexander Profitable; Enhancing by Emma Rumney and Kim Coghill)
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