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All 27 European Union member states and the United Kingdom have temporarily suspended travel to southern Africa following the discovery of the new COVID variant called B.1.1.529.
Key points:
- Dr Anthony Fauci says the US is considering a travel ban for some African nations
- The new COVID variant was detected in Belgium
- European Union member nations have banned flights from seven African nations where the new variant has been found
The restrictions are to apply to the nations of South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
The border measures follow a confirmed case of the new variant being in Belgium.
Virologist Marc Van Ranst, whose laboratory works closely with Belgium's public health body Sciensano, said on Twitter that the variant was found in a traveller returning to Belgium from Egypt on November 11.
Italy's health ministry earlier announced that the measures would apply to anyone who has been to the seven southern African nations in the past 14 days.
Germany said a flight ban could be imposed as early as Friday night, local time.
In Amsterdam, several hundred passengers arriving on two flights from South Africa on Friday already faced hours of delays and testing due to concerns over the new variant.
South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla called the travel restrictions "unjustified", telling a media briefing that travel bans contravened the norms and standards of the World Health Organization (WHO).
He specifically lashed out at Britain, saying it had imposed travel restrictions on his country without prior discussion.
Away from Europe, Israel also imposed a travel ban covering most of Africa.
"We are currently on the verge of a state of emergency," Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said.
Under the broader restrictions, all African nations, except those in North Africa, were added to Israel's "red list" of high-risk countries.
Morocco has also banned travel from seven southern African countries.
Asian nations follow suit
Japan, Hong Kong and the Philippines also all imposed new travel restrictions.
The Philippines announced flights from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Mozambique are banned until December 15.
Hong Kong's government said it will ban non-Hong Kong residents arriving from eight southern African states from entering the territory if they had stayed in those countries within the past 21 days.
The measure, effective from Saturday, affects people arriving from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
"Along with South Africa which is already a specified high-risk place, non-Hong Kong residents who have stayed in these places within 21 days will not be allowed to enter the city", it said.
Despite the bans the WHO cautioned countries from doing so too quickly.
"At this point, implementing travel measures is being cautioned against," WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said.
A senior South African health official said he had been told on Friday that the WHO would designate the new strain a variant "of concern".
"We are busy trying to get some information behind the scenes about what was discussed at the WHO meeting today," Nicholas Crisp, acting director general in the health department, told a media briefing.
"Earlier in the day I just got a message to say that they were going to promote this variant to a variant of concern."
US considering travel ban, says Fauci
Top US infectious disease official Dr Anthony Fauci said a ban on flights from southern Africa was a possibility and the United States was rushing to gather data on the new COVID-19 variant.
"There is always the possibility of doing what the UK has done, namely block travel from South Africa and related countries," Dr Fauci told CNN.
"Obviously as soon as we find out more information we'll make a decision as quickly as we possibly can."
Mr Fauci said US scientists would speak with South African counterparts on Friday about the new variant but also said there was no evidence the variant had arrived in the US.
Wires/ABC
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