Omicron, the “worrying” new variant of COVID-19, now
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“The Commission will propose, in close coordination with the Member States, to activate the emergency brake to stop air travel from the southern African region due to the worrying variant B.1.1.529,” wrote the President.
The Italian Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, signed the order banning the entry of citizens who have passed through South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Namibia. Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland.
The British government, meanwhile, has acted “extremely quickly” to introduce a ban from Friday to flights from six African countries with an approach focused on “security” to the new variant of the coronavirus detected in South Africa, explained today the Minister of Transport, Grant Shapps.
The London Executive bans from 12 GMT air services from six African destinations, including South Africa, due to the spread of the B.1.1.529 variant, which could make current vaccines less effective.
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If you are a citizen of another country and want to travel to South Africa, then you need a visa. The “visitor” visa is for international travelers permanently residing outside of South Africa. It is also for those who wish to visit the country on a more temporary basis for tourism or business purposes. But it does not last forever. Once you get it, the visa is valid for no more than 90 days.
So, now you are in the country. While you are here, the visa is considered a visitor’s permit. The period of validity of the permit is counted from the date you arrived and will be stated under the heading “conditions” on the visa label.
It is important to make sure you apply for the correct visa or permit. Otherwise, entry into the country may be refused if the purpose of the visit is not stated correctly.
Depending on where you are from, visa requirements differ from country to country and are subject to change. Each application is treated as an individual case, so you should inquire at the nearest South African consulate or mission abroad or any Department of Home Affairs office to see if you are even supposed to apply for a visa.
Southern African nations face bans on the use of
In Malta, travel to and from regions with identified cases of the variant will be temporarily banned from midnight Saturday, Chris Fearne, Malta’s deputy prime minister and health minister, said in a tweet Friday.
Israel recorded its first case of the new B.1,1,529 coronavirus variant and the country has announced that seven countries in southern Africa will be placed on a red list. This means that returnees from those countries must quarantine themselves in a designated hotel.
On Thursday night, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said he had accepted the Health Ministry’s recommendations to place South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia and Eswatini on a new red list.
Travelers from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Lesotho will have to remain in quarantine in government-provided facilities for 10 days from midnight local time on Saturday, November 27.
More trips cancelled: new restrictions in USA, Canada
Passengers coming from countries where yellow fever is present must be vaccinated. Vaccination is required at least 10 days prior to arrival in South Africa. The South African health authorities require that all passengers coming on a flight or making a stopover in a country where yellow fever exists (Argentina, Brazil) must be vaccinated. For further information, please consult the International Vaccination Center of the Hospital del Salvador.
Malaria is found in limited areas of South Africa, mainly the lowland areas (below 1,000 meters) of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Cases of infection may occur in the North West and Northern Cape provinces, along the Molopo and Orange rivers. A map, produced by the South African Ministry of Health, which you will find below the link to this document, shows the malaria areas in the country. It is advisable to consult a physician for preventive treatment.