US travel ban: Biden lifts restrictions on Southern Africa

US President Joe Biden has announced that the country will officially be lifting the travel restrictions that were imposed on South Africa and several other countries.

In a proclamation issued on Tuesday, 28 December, Biden said the travel restrictions were no longer necessary for public health. Like dozens of other countries, the US slapped a series of travel restrictions on those coming from Southern Africa in November, citing the emergence of the Omicron variant.

But now, the new variant accounts for more than 74% of COVID-19 cases in the US, a point which made officials in the country realise the ban on SA would prove to be completely futile. Other nations that were affected include Eswatini, Lesotho, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique and Malawi.

US TRAVEL BAN: RESTRICTIONS COME INTO EFFECT ON FRIDAY

US President Joe Biden says the move to lift the travel restrictions on South Africa and several of its neighbouring countries, was based on the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The removal of the restrictions comes into effect on Friday, 31 December 2021.

“Having learned more about the Omicron variant in the past several weeks, the CDC now recommends lifting the travel restrictions. Since I issued that proclamation, our Nation’s health officials, in collaboration with the South African scientists who originally reported the variant, have made substantial progress in understanding the Omicron variant.”

US President Joe Biden

Biden also pointed to new efforts to screen incoming travelers coming into the US – including a NEW requirement that all those entering the US by flight must test negative for COVID-19 within a day, regardless of vaccination status. The previous window was three days.

The initial decision to impose travel restrictions (by the US and other countries) was fiercely criticised by the science community, as well as African leaders. Many accused the international community for punishing South Africa because its scientists managed to detect the Omicron variant first.

Health experts have warned that the Omicron variant is already the main source of COVID-19 cases all over the world.