New covid-19 variants: indonesia to ban traveller from nigeria, seven Other african Countries

The Indonesian government says it will ban travellers from Nigeria and seven other African countries over concerns about the spread of the new variants of coronavirus, called Omicron

South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) announced the discovery of the new variant, B.1.1.529.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had named it ‘Omicron’ and classified it as a variant of concern and advised countries to enhance surveillance and sequencing efforts, as well as ensure strict adherence to the COVID protocol to limit the spread of infections.

According to Indonesian authorities, other African countries mentioned are South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique and Eswatini.

Although no single case of Omicron has been reported in Nigeria.

The Cable quoted Reuters as saying that an Indonesia senior minister gave the hint at a news conference that the travel restrictions will take effect on Monday and reevaluated every two weeks.

It also disclosed that the Coordinating Minister for Marine Affairs and Investment, Luhut Pandjaitan, coordinating minister for maritime affairs and investment, said Indonesian citizens who have been to the eight African countries and Hong Kong will quarantine in designated facilities for 14 days.

Pandjaitan also disclosed that travellers entering the country will have to quarantine for seven days compared to three days earlier announced.

“Omicron has spread to more countries, so to respond to these developments, today the government wants to carry out the following policies,” the minister was quoted to have said by Reuters.

On Sunday, President of the African Development Bank (AFDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, advised world leaders not to label or penalise African nations for new COVID-19 variants and mutations occuring across the globe.