Travel restrictions in South Africa are deeply disappointing
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, expressed disappointment that some countries have imposed travel restrictions on southern Africa conforming the discovery of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
He also expressed gratitude to South Africa and Botswana for their openness. And prompt reporting of the new strain, which is more infectious.
I’d like to thank South Africa and Botswana for detecting, sequencing, and reporting this new Covid-19 variant so quickly. I am deeply disappointed that some countries continue to prohibit direct flights from southern Africa due to the Omicron variant,” Tedros said.
The WHO director-general spoke at an event called ‘Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing-From Aspiration to Action. He stated that the emergency of a new variant demonstrates the need for more widespread vaccine production standards.
“The persistent inequity in vaccine access, as well as the emergence of the Omicron variant, demonstrate why the world requires more widespread, regionally-based vaccine production. As well as IP reform to share vital health public goods, technology transfer, know-how sharing, and training,” Tedros said.
The South African Ambassador to Australia, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, has also slammed the travel bans on South Africa as discriminatory.
Claiming that if the Omicron variant had been discover in Europe, no restrictions would have been impose.
According to reports, Schalkwyk stated, “We believe it is discrimination because the only difference is that these countries are on the African continent the others are not. Before this, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa told reporters on Sunday that hospital admissions in the country are not increasing. D.espite an increase in active Covid-19 cases caused by the Omicron strain.
The president also chastised the countries that imposed travel restrictions on South Africa. And several other African countries conforming the discovery of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
The WHO designated Omicron as a variant of concern due to its high infection rates. Prompting countries worldwide to impose new travel restrictions. According to WHO on Friday, the variant has been detected in 38 countries since its discovery.
