Countries around the world are racing to introduce travel bans and restrictions on southern African countries in an effort to contain the new Omicron variant of Covid-19.
The moves come after the variant was officially named by health officials.
Omicron had many mutations and early evidence suggested an increased reinfection risk, the WHO said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of passengers arriving in Amsterdam from South Africa were tested for the new variant.
Some 61 people on two KLM flights tested positive for Covid-19 and have been quarantined at a hotel near the airport while they have further tests, Dutch officials said.
