After scientists in South Africa detected a new Covid-19 variant B.1.1.529 with as many as 50 mutations overall, Covid-19-battered countries were left in jitter with many of them announcing fresh travel curbs, quarantine and vaccination rules for passengers travelling from and via these South African countries. India has called for rigorous screening of passengers from South Africa, Botswana, and Hong Kong.
According to scientists, the new Covid-19 variant is mainly affecting people in the under 25 age group, among whom the vaccination rate against the virus is only 26 per cent. Current vaccines are not an ideal match so might not work quite as well, experts said but added that “that doesn’t mean they’ll offer zero protection”.
Over 100 cases have been detected in South Africa, where the new strain is slowly becoming the dominant one. Israel has identified a case of a Covid-19 variant with a large number of mutations “in a person who returned from Malawi”. A case has surfaced in Belgium too.
Two cases have been detected in Hong Kong. In a sign of the growing alarm, the European Union separately proposed prohibiting travel from Southern Africa.
The United Kingdom was the first country to declare travel curbs from several southern African countries and stated that passengers will have to undergo a mandatory quarantine. UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said six countries would be added to the red list, with flights being temporarily banned.
However, no cases have been confirmed in the UK as of now.
Same is the case with Italy which also banned entry of those who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia or Swaziland in the past fortnight due to fears over a new coronavirus variant. Health Minister Roberto Speranza said scientists were studying the new B.1.1.529 variant, "and in the meantime, we will follow the path of maximum caution".
Similarly, Germany joined Britain in banning most travel from South Africa as governments scramble to prevent the spread of a new Covid-19 variant with a large number of mutations
Singapore said it will restrict arrivals from seven African countries. "All non-Singaporeans and people without permanent residency in the city-state who have recent travel history to the seven countries will be barred from entering or transiting through Singapore," the Health Ministry added. The fresh curbs will be effective from Sunday, it said.
Scotland too took a cue from the UK Government's decision, saying anyone arriving from the six countries will have to self-isolate and take two PCR tests, while hotel quarantine will be in place from 04:00 GMT on Saturday. France suspended all flights coming from southern Africa for 48 hours. French Health Minister Olivier Veran told news agency Reuters that the new variant had not yet been "diagnosed" in Europe and added that all passengers who recently arrived from the region will be tested and closely monitored.
The World Health Organization has called for caution in the initial stages of dealing with this variant; more research needs to be conducted to understand how B.1.1.529 behaves, the global health body said.
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO's Covid-19 Technical Lead, underlined the importance of ensuring complete vaccination.
