Oman, UAE, Kuwait and Egypt ban travelers from southern African states over COVID-19 variant

Oman, UAE, Kuwait and Egypt ban travelers from southern African states over COVID-19 variant
Indian nationals check in at the Muscat International Airport before leaving the Omani capital. (File photo: AFP)
Short Url
Updated 29 November 2021
Follow

Oman, UAE, Kuwait and Egypt ban travelers from southern African states over COVID-19 variant

Oman, UAE, Kuwait and Egypt ban travelers from southern African states over COVID-19 variant

DUBAI: Oman, UAE and Egypt joined a series of countries worldwide who have banned direct flights from seven African countries temporarily in response to the spread of a new coronavirus variant.

Starting from Nov. 28, directs flights from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, and Eswatini would be blocked and a range of measures would be introduced for any travelers arriving from such countries via indirect flights, whether for transit or otherwise. 

Kuwait also announced on Saturday that it is to suspend direct flights from nine African countries from Sunday due to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus discovered in South Africa, the government communication centre tweeted on Saturday, citing a cabinet decision.
The countries are South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zambia, and Malawi.