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
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation forces carry out demolitions in eastern Gaza City.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: The National Armed Forces will remain on alert and mobilized in the face of this extremely dangerous provocation.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: This is not a defense exercise, but rather a military aggression aimed at turning the Caribbean into a space for violence and US hegemony.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: The government of Trinidad and Tobago has surrendered the country's sovereignty to act as a military colony serving US interests.
Rapid Support Forces attack El-Fasher, west Sudan.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: One martyr and one wounded in an Israeli drone attack on the town of Hafir, west of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone fired three missiles in the vicinity of the town of Bodai, west of Baalbek.
Reuters: The Rapid Support Forces announced that they have taken over the headquarters of the Sudanese Armed Forces in al-Fasher.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the town of Al-Qlailah, Southern Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strikes town of Harouf, Nabatieh district.

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 ready to join Hamas disarmament and Gaza ceasefire mission

George Galloway, wife detained at Gatwick, released without charge

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

From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with Al-Manar TV, October 26, 2025 (Screenshot)
Politics

Hezbollah ready to face 'Israel' in case of war: Sheikh Naim Qassem

A Russian cargo train arrives at Astara Railway Wharf, March 2018 (IRNA)
Economy

Tehran, Moscow to finalize INSTC rail project next month

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf addresses the media after submitting his candidacy for the Islamic Republic's upcoming presidential election in Tehran on June 3, 2024 (AP)
Politics

UNSCR 2231 termination marks major win for Iran’s diplomacy: Qalibaf

ap
Politics

'Israel' killed 40 Palestinian children in West Bank since January: UN

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