The Federal Government of Canada has made an announcement that all flights and travel services from South Africa have been banned as a new variant of COVID-19 has emerged.
This will be effective from the 26th of November. All the international travelers who have been in the seven affected countries in the last 15 days shall not be allowed inside Canada. The seven countries that have been affected are Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, South Africa, Mozambique, and Botswana.
Those who are residents of Canada such as Canadian citizens or permanent residents shall be allowed to come home. However, they will have to take a diverging route to a third country. A molecular negative COViD-19 test report is also needed.
Jean-Yves Duclos, the Health Minister of Canada, announced that travelers who have been on a voyage in the past two weeks in the affected area shall get tested and stay put in isolation until the test results have been retrieved.
These measures shall be in effect until January 31, 2022, says Omar Alghabra, the Transport Minister of Canada.
The announcement was followed right after the World Health Organization released details about a new COVID-19 strain. This new strain is known as the Omicron B.1.1.529 and is considered as a variant of concern. Omicron has been found in Belgium, Botswana, South Africa, and Hong Kong. Fortunately, it has not been found in Canada stated by the Chief Public Health Officer, Theresa Tam.
Alghabra, the transport minister has informed the Canadians who are not able to come home due to the concerning travel restrictions to contact the emergency watch center for support.
