Omicron: South African Scientists Hit Back with Scathing Report after the UK’s Travel Ban
- South African scientists have slammed the UK's travel ban after the discovery of the new Omicron variant of Covid 19
- They called the hasty travel ban a threat to global solidarity and the future manner in which governments share information
- The UK's last travel ban on South Africa lasted 291 days after the discovery of the Beta variant of Covid 19
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JOHANNESBURG - A group of South Africa's most eminent scientists have slammed the UK's hasty implementation of a travel ban following the discovery of the new Omicron variant of Covid 19.
They released a scathing editorial that stated that the travel ban was dangerous and ill-conceived. They called it a threat to global solidarity and might have serious consequences for how governments share information in the future according to The Daily Maverick.
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The editorial's author list reads like a who's who of the South African medical field with some of the countries most respected scientists on board.
The scientists' sentiments were echoed by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla who also slammed that travel ban, calling it dangerous.
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The last travel ban implemented by the UK for South Africa was back in December 2020. The ban was instituted after the discovery of the Beta variant. The travel ban lasted 291 days.
The UK government acted that same when the Omicron variant was reported and shortly afterwards the Israeli and US governments also imposed travel bans.
The Lancet described the Omicron travel ban as 'unwarranted' and that it had generated anger and frustration.
Mandatory vaccines: Warnings that compulsory jabs could spark violent protests
Earlier, Briefly News reported that the Student Union of South Africa (SAUS) has warned that the government's plan to make Covid 19 vaccine's mandatory could lead to violent protests.
SAUS president Yandisa Ndzoyiya revealed that they are encouraging students to take the job but they warned that if the students are not consulted properly then violent protests might spread.
SA worried about stricter lockdown as Gauteng enters Covid19 4th wave
In similar news, the Gauteng province has been seeing the highest number of new Covid19 infections in the country and health experts say the province will enter into a fourth wave on Friday, 3 December.
Dr Michelle Groome of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said this prediction is based on the modelling done by the department.
Source: Briefly News
