Countries Rush To Close Borders Again As Omicron Covid Variant Spreads | Full List

In response to the new Omicron variant, Israel and Japan have announced border closures to all foreign travelers and Britain and Australia have tightened rules for all arrivals.

Flights from African countries have been restricted by several countries in the wake of the Omicron scare| Photo: Getty

New Delhi: The Omicron Covid-19 variant, classified as a 'variant of concern' by the World Health Organisation, has prompted several countries to impose a fresh round of travel restrictions and curbs. Omicron, first detected in South Africa, has been identified in at least 12 other countries. Cases have been found in Botswana, Italy, Hong Kong, Australia, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, Canada, Israel and the Czech Republic.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the Omicron variant was likely to spread internationally, posing a "very high" global risk of infection surges that could have "severe consequences", Reuters reported. The WHO said countries should use a "risk-based approach to adjust international travel measures in a timely manner". Japan became the latest country to announce that it would close its borders to foreigners.

These countries have imposed travel restrictions in the wake of the Omicron scare:

• Australia: Australia's borders remain closed to tourists from all countries except New Zealand and Singapore. Australia has imposed new requirements for arrivals to isolate at home or a hotel for 72 hours while awaiting the results of a Covid-19 test, according to reports. 
• Japan: Japan announced Monday it will suspend entry of all foreign visitors from around the world. The measure will take effect from Tuesday, said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Earlier this month, Japan had eased border controls for short-term business visitors, foreign students and workers. Border controls will be restored following the decision to suspend entry of all foreign visitors.
• United States: On Friday, the United States placed new travel restrictions on southern African countries. Travel restrictions to the United States from South Africa and seven other countries (Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi) will take effect from Monday. American citizens and lawful permanent residents are exempted from the ban, according to administration officials. 
• Seychelles: South Africans and visitors from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe will be denied entry into Seychelles from Saturday, December 4.
• Bangladesh: On Saturday, November 27, all travel to and from South Africa was stopped by Bangladesh. 
• Saudi Arabia: Flights to and from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Eswatini have been suspended by Saudi Arabia, according to reports.
• Sri Lanka: The Sri Lankan government announced that most visitors from six southern African nations, including South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, and Eswatini will be required to undergo mandatory quarantine.  
• Britain: The UK has imposed travel restrictions on arrivals from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia starting Friday. Non-UK and Irish residents who have been in the six African countries in the previous 10 days will be refused entry into England. A temporary ban on commercial and private planes travelling from the six countries will also come into force.
• Israel: Israel had already added South Africa and six other African countries to its "red list". It imposed a 14-day quarantine for Israelis coming back to the country from those nations.
• Italy: Authorities in Italy banned entry to those who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia or Swaziland in the past fortnight.  
• Germany and Scotland have also joined Britain in banning travel to six African nations.
• France has also suspended all flights coming from southern Africa for 48 hours, French Health Minister Olivier Veran told Reuters.
• Singapore: The Health Ministry said all non-Singaporeans and people without permanent residency in the city who have recent travel history to the seven African countries would be barred from entering or transiting through Singapore. The new restrictions, which took effect from Sunday, apply to South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Singapore citizens and foreigners holding permanent resident status arriving from those countries will have to undergo a 10-day quarantine, AFP reported. Singapore Airlines Ltd said it had converted some of its passenger flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town to cargo-only, according to a Reuters report. Recently, Singapore had begun a reopening to foreign travel. However, following the detection of the Omicron variant, the country deferred plans to open its borders to vaccinated travellers from the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia because those countries are transit hubs for African travel, according to reports.