EU, UK, Israel to Halt Air Travel to Southern Africa Over New China Virus Variant

Nations took swift action Friday to halt air travel from southern Africa in reaction to news of a new, transmissible COVID-19 variant.

Although the World Health Organization (WHO) cautioned against hastily imposing travel restrictions linked to the B.1.1.529 variant, warning officials to avoid “knee-jerk responses,” the 27-nation European Union said it would propose stopping air travel from southern Africa.

The EU joined Israel and the United Kingdom who are likewise imposing a travel ban.