U.S. Imposes Travel Ban on South African Nations Following Emergence of Concerning New “Omicron” Variant
12/03/2021On November 24, 2021, the Republic of South Africa informed the World Health Organization (WHO) of a new, potentially more contagious variant of COVID-19, which has since been dubbed as “Omicron.”
As a result, the United States has imposed a travel ban on eight countries in southern Africa, effective Monday, November 29, 2021. Travelers from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi are now banned from entering the US, and American citizens and permanent residents coming from those countries must present a negative coronavirus test taken within one day before traveling. The U.S. has expressed that “other mitigation measures” may be implemented for travelers departing the above nations and destined for the United States “as needed.”
Along with the United States, dozens of other countries have implemented similar measures restricting travel from African nations, in addition to quarantine and post-arrival testing requirements for their own returning citizens.
We will post updates to this situation as further developments arise.