At least three countries have so far imposed restrictions on foreign travels to contain the spread of the new SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.529, Omicron variant, which was first reported to the WHO by government officials in South Africa early this month.
So far, Japan, Israel and Morocco have closed their doors to all foreign travelers from entering the country. The Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, said that Japan would reverse a move earlier this month to reopen its borders to short-term business travelers and international students.
In Japan, all foreign travelers except those who are residents of the country were barred from entering the country starting midnight on Monday, November 29, 2021. Japan, the world’s third-largest economy, has been closed to tourists since the beginning of the pandemic, a policy it has maintained even as other wealthy nations reopened to vaccinated visitors.
Australia said on November 29, 2021 that it would delay by two weeks its plan to reopen its borders to international students, skilled migrants and travelers from Japan and South Korea. The country said it would use the delay, up to December 15, to study whether the Omicron variant is more dangerous than the Delta variant, which raced across the world earlier this year.
Restrictions in Israel
Israel reopened to vaccinated tourists only four weeks ago but announced its blanket ban over the weekend.
In Israel, all foreign nationals will be banned from entering for at least 14 days, except for urgent humanitarian cases to be approved by a special exceptions committee. Returning vaccinated Israelis will be tested upon landing and must self-quarantine for three days, pending results of another P.C.R. test.
Unvaccinated Israelis will have to self-quarantine for seven days. Israelis returning from countries classified as “red,” with high risk of infection, including most African countries, must enter a quarantine hotel until they receive a negative result from the airport test, then transfer to home quarantine (until they get a 7-day P.C.R. test result).
Ran Balicer, the chairman of an expert panel that advises the Israeli government on Covid-19 response, said the decision was temporary and was taken out of prudence.
Morocco suspends incoming flights
Morocco said on Sunday that it would deny entry to all travellers, even Moroccan citizens, for two weeks beginning Monday, November 29, 2021. The country is banning all incoming and outgoing flights over the two-week period.
“The new Omicron variant seems to be easily transmitted, but we haven’t had time yet to get an idea, but I think they are doing what is necessary, I think as recommended by the WHO. I believe that we can leave special flights for people who work there”.
Agraou Benissa, a doctor in Rabat.
Last year, Morocco kept its borders closed fearing the health system would not be able to cope with the rising numbers of patients seen in Europe.
Restrictions on Southern African region
The moves by Japan, Israel and Morocco stood in contrast to those in places like the United States, Britain, Canada and the European Union, which have all announced bans on travellers only from Southern Africa.
Meanwhile, Indonesia on Monday, November 29, 2021 joined a small but growing list of countries to bar travel from Hong Kong as well as the Southern African region. Hong Kong detected two cases of Omicron on Thursday, prompting India, Pakistan and other nations to impose a travel ban.
Japan is yet to report any cases of the new variant, though it is studying a case involving a traveller from Namibia. Israel has identified at least one confirmed case of Omicron so far — a woman who arrived from Malawi — and testing has provided indications of several more likely cases in the country.
However, some countries proceeded with their plans to reopen on Monday, November 29, 2021 like Singapore and Malaysia, which opened their land border. South Korea, on the other hand, announced that it was delaying any loosening of social distancing restrictions.
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