Malta is temporarily banning travellers from a list of countries due to the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant.
Health minister Chris Fearne announced the news on Twitter, revealing that a new COVID-19 variant has been detected in South Africa. Scientists are reporting that it is of massive concern as it mutates and spreads among young people in Gauteng.
Travel to and from regions with known cases of the new Covid19 #variant B.1.1.529 to Malta will be temporarily banned from midnight on Saturday. At the moment this includes South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and, Zimbabwe.
— Chris Fearne (@chrisfearne) November 26, 2021
Fearne stated that ‘travel to and from regions with known cases of the new Covid19 variant B.11.529 to Malta will be temporarily banned from midnight on Saturday. At the moment this includes South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe.’
The rest of Europe also seem to be moving towards this decision, with Germany and Italy joining the likes of Malta and the UK in banning most travel from South Africa.
The @EU_Commission will propose, in close coordination with Member States, to activate the emergency brake to stop air travel from the southern African region due to the variant of concern B.1.1.529.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) November 26, 2021
Ursula von Der Leyen said that the EU Commission ‘will propose, in close coordination with Member States, to activate the emergency brake to stop air travel from the southern African region due’ to the variant.
South Africa sharply condemned Britain’s decision to take such measures however, saying that it seems to be ‘rushed as even the World Health Organisation is yet to advise on the next steps.’
#MaltaDaily
Photo Source: State Department, Chris Fearne,