WHO advises unvaccinated people aged 60 and older to postpone travel

The World Health Organization said Tuesday that people 60 and older who are not vaccinated or have not previously had COVID-19 should postpone traveling "to areas with community transmission," citing the spread of the Omicron variant. The organization, which named Omicron as a variant of concern days earlier, issued a press release criticizing widespread travel bans and arguing that essential travel should continue so long as travelers remain vigilant.

WHO named Omicron a variant of concern on Friday, and 56 countries issued travel restrictions in the following days, according to the organization. The U.S. banned travel from South Africa and seven other southern African countries starting Monday. 

Although the health organization has criticized such "blanket bans" from countries, it said on Tuesday that "persons who have not been fully vaccinated or do not have proof of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and are at increased risk of developing severe disease and dying, including people 60 years of age or older or those with comorbidities that present increased risk of severe COVID-19 (e.g. heart disease, cancer and diabetes), should be advised to postpone travel to areas with community transmission."