New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged the Prime Minister to put travel restrictions and ban flights from the countries where the new Omicron variant of the Covid-19 has been detected. The World Health Organisation on Friday designated the new Omicron variant as a ‘variant of concern’. This variant was first detected in South Africa and has been reported to spread to countries like Botswana, Belgium, Israel and Hong Kong.
In a tweet, Arvind Kejriwal wrote, “I urge Hon’ble PM to stop flights from those countries which are affected by the new variant. With great difficulty, our country has recovered from Corona. We should do everything possible to prevent this new variant from entering India.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is convening a meeting with the top officials on the situation of Covid-19 and vaccination in the country.
As reported by ANI, India has prepared a list of 12 nations which include Israel, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Travellers coming from these countries will undergo additional measures on arrival which will include a post arrival test for the infection. The other countries in the list include South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, and Singapore.
As reported by Reuters, the United States will stop flights from South Africa and neighbouring countries from Monday. Canada has already put a travel restriction for travellers coming from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
The WHO designated the new variant, B.1.1.529, as a variant of concern. It said that it may be more transmissible than other forms and preliminary evidence have suggested increased risk of reinfection.