Travel bans over new 'Omicron' coronavirus variant are unjustified, says South Africa

On Friday, South Africa said that imposing restrictions on travellers from the country because of the newly identified Covid-19 variant 'Omicron' is unjustified.

South Africa said on Friday that imposing restrictions on travellers from the country because of a newly identified Covid-19 variant was unjustified, after a British ban on flights from southern African countries that others have followed.

Health Minister Joe Phaahla told a media briefing that South Africa was acting with transparency and travel bans were against the norms and standards of the World Health Organization (WHO), which held an emergency meeting over the variant named omicron.