Matshidiso Moeti, The WHO’s Regional Director of Africa, has asked countries to use science when thinking of placing travel bans after the Omicron variant was detected in South Africa.
In a statement, 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 recognised by over 190 nations.”
He praised South Africa for their effectiveness in alerting WHO after identifying the Omicron variant in the region.
“The speed and transparency of the South African and Botswana governments in informing the world of the new variant is to be commended,”
Despite the reaction from WHO, countries such as the UK and US have moved to place certain South African countries on the red travel list as variants begin to appear throughout the world, to which South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called “completely unjustified”.
In a speech on Sunday (28 November) he said “The prohibition of travel is not informed by science, nor will it be effective in preventing the spread of this variant,”
“The only thing the prohibition on travel will do is to further damage the economies of the affected countries, and undermine the ability to respond to, and also to recover from, the pandemic.”
WHO Regional Director Moeti also said:
“With the omicron variant now detected in several regions of the world, putting in place travel bans that target Africa attacks global solidarity,” said Moeti. “Covid-19 constantly exploits our divisions. We will only get the better of the virus if we work together for solutions.”
The EU has called for all 27 nations to consider restricting travellers coming from South Africa with many countries not listening to WHO’s suggestion.
