Saudi Arabia, Morocco restrict travel from 7 African countries due to new coronavirus variant

By Said Ibicioglu

RIYADH (AA) - Saudi Arabia banned travel to and from seven African countries Friday because of a new coronavirus variant.

The Kingdom’s Interior Ministry said flights were canceled due to the B.1.1.529 variant found in South Africa and Botswana.

The suspensions affect Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

- Morocco also bans entries from 7 African countries

The Moroccan Inter-Ministerial Coordination Committee said that due to the new variant, those coming from the seven countries would not be allowed to enter the country.

- Egypt increases quarantine preparations for entry

The Egyptian Health Ministry said quarantine preparations were expanded at all air, land and sea entrances to combat the mutated version of the virus.

It said that measures at entrances have been increased to the level of verification to ensure incoming passengers are not infected with the virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Friday the new variant from southern Africa a "variant of concern," and named it Omicron.

The declaration came after the Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution, an independent group of experts, met to assess the variant initially named B.1.1.529.