Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area

Europe Is Moving to Limit travel from South Africa over Variant

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 26 Nov 2021 12:34
3 Min Read

As a new variant of the COVID-19 emerges in South Africa, European Nations move to restrict travel from the region.

  • x
  • Travelers wear protective face masks at the Air France ticketing desk at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport outside Paris on March 12 (Source: Reuters)
    Travelers wear protective face masks at the Air France ticketing desk at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport outside Paris on March 12 (Source: Reuters)

As nations hurry to avoid the spread of a new COVID-19 variant with a large number of mutations, Germany and Italy followed Britain in prohibiting most travel to South Africa on Friday.

In a reflection of the mounting concern, the European Union has proposed a separate ban on travel from the southern African region.

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

On Friday, EU chief Ursula Von der Leyen tweeted that the EU executive "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,"

Germany

Jens Spahn, Germany's Federal Minister of Health announced that Germany's new travel restrictions, which take effect Friday night, will concern South Africa and "possibly neighboring nations". He added that only German nationals will be allowed to fly.

Related News

UK-made F-35 parts linked to Gaza Al-Mawasi tent massacre one year ago

Amnesty slams UK for abusing laws to silence pro-Palestine protests

German nationals will have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, even if they are vaccinated, the minister announced.

Spahn added, referring to Germany's fierce fourth wave of the pandemic, "The last thing we need now is an introduced new variant that causes even more problems." 

Italy

The Italian government announced on Friday that anyone who has spent the previous two weeks in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, or Eswatini will be denied admission to the country.

Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza said: "In the interim, we will follow the road of extreme prudence," adding that specialists were studying the new B.1.1.529 variant.

The UK

Starting from 1200 GMT on Friday, all flights from South Africa and its immediate neighbors to the UK will be prohibited. The decision of the United Kingdom was harshly criticized by South Africa.

South Africa's Foreign Ministry commented on the issue in a statement, saying that "whilst South Africa respects the right of all countries to take the necessary precautionary measures to protect their citizens, the UK's decision to temporarily ban South Africans from entering the UK seems to have been rushed," adding that "even the World Health Organization (WTO) is yet to advise on the next steps."

What is the new Covid-19 variant?

South African officials have detected a new version of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, known as B.1.1.529, which they describe as "highly concerning." Fears that a new strain might fuel outbreaks in many countries, put pressure on health systems, and complicate efforts to restore economies and borders drove a wave of risk aversion through global markets on Friday, according to a report by bloomberg.

What’s new about this variant? 

According to scientists, B.1.1.529 has a large number of mutations in its spike protein, which plays a role in the virus's entry into cells. It's also what immunizations are designed to combat. Researchers are still attempting to figure out if it's more contagious or deadly than earlier variants.

  • Britain
  • Italy
  • COVID-19
  • South Africa
  • Germany
  • EU
  • UK
  • travel bans
  • European Union

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS