JOHANNESBURG: President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned travel bans dictated against South Africa and its neighbors, over the new coronavirus variant Omicron that was detected in South Africa earlier this month.
Ramaphosa during his address to the nation on Sunday night, termed the bans as unjustified, saying he was deeply disappointed thus calling for the travel restrictions to be reversed.
The bans were enforced unto Southern African countries by UK, EU and US among others.
World Health Organization (WHO) which categorized Omicron as a “variant of concern”, also condemned the bans on Sunday, November 28, calling on countries to follow science and international health regulations in order to avoid using travel restrictions.
WHO’s regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said travel restrictions may play a role in slightly reducing the spread of Covid-19 but place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods,
“If restrictions are implemented, they should not be unnecessarily invasive or intrusive, and should be scientifically based, according to the International Health Regulations, which is a legally binding instrument of international law recognized by over 190 nations,” Moeti said in a statement.
On Sunday, many governments rushed to close their borders even as scientists cautioned that it is not clear if the new variant is more alarming than other versions of the virus.
However, according to reports gathered by WHO, scientists in several places from Hong Kong to Europe, have confirmed presence of the variant. The Netherlands reported 13 cases on Sunday, and Australia found two.
Moeti noted that with the Omicron variant now detected in several regions of the world, putting in place travel bans that target Africa attacks global solidarity.
“Covid-19 constantly exploits our divisions. We will only get the better of the virus if we work together for solutions,” Moeti added.