Britain on Saturday confirmed its first two cases of the new Omicron strain of Covid-19, both linked to travel from southern Africa and expanded travel restrictions on the region.
“After
overnight genome sequencing, the UK Health Security Agency has confirmed that
two cases of Covid-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 (Omicron) have
been identified in the UK,” a government statement said.
“The two
cases are linked and there is a link to travel to southern Africa,” it said.
One case
was detected in the central English city of Nottingham, and the other in
Chelmsford east of London, officials said.
“We have
moved rapidly and the individuals are self-isolating while contact tracing is
ongoing,” Health Secretary Sajid Javid said.
He added
that the government was placing another four African countries on its travel
“red list” — Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola — effective from 4:00 am
(0400 GMT) on Sunday.
Britain
has already said it is banning travel from six southern African nations because
of the emergence of Omicron: South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe
and Botswana.
The
government was widely criticised for its travel and quarantine policy earlier
in the pandemic, when it kept borders open to foreign travellers even as
infection rates spiralled.
“This is a
stark reminder that we are not yet out of this pandemic,” Javid said, urging
the public to get follow-up booster jabs of vaccines. “We will not hesitate to
take further action if required.”
AFP