WHO says not yet clear if Omicron causes more severe disease

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on countries to “urgently” reverse “scientifically unjustified” travel bans linked to the discovery of the new coronavirus variant, Omicron.

“We call upon all those countries that have imposed travel bans on our country and our southern African sister countries to immediately and urgently reverse their decisions,” he said on Sunday in his first address to the nation following last week’s detection of the new variant.

Dozens of countries have blacklisted South Africa and its neighbours since South African scientists flagged Omicron last week.

“The prohibition of travel is not informed by science,” Ramaphosa said.

“The only thing the prohibition on travel will do is to further damage the economies of the affected countries and undermine their ability to respond to, and recover from, the pandemic,” he added.

Omicron cases have already been registered in the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Botswana, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, the United Kingdom and Australia.