President Biden imposes a travel ban from South Africa due to new COVID variant

Following the World Health Organization’s Friday classification of a new coronavirus variety as a “variant of concern,” President Joe Biden has ordered air travel restrictions from South Africa and seven other African nations, beginning Monday.

“This morning I was briefed by my chief medical advisor, Dr. Tony Fauci, and the members of our Covid response team, about the Omicron variant, which is spreading through Southern Africa. As a precautionary measure until we have more information, I am ordering additional air travel restrictions from South Africa and seven other countries,” President Biden said in a statement.

The World Health Organization identified a new coronavirus variation, Omicron, as a “variant of concern” on Friday.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a “variant of concern” is a variation that is highly transmissible or severe.

South Africans, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawians will be banned from entering the United States beginning Monday, according to officials.