The World Health Organization (WHO) called on nations Sunday to reconsider bans imposed on travelers from southern African countries after a new variation of COVID-19 was detected.
"As a growing number of countries impose flight bans on southern African nations due to concerns over the new Omicron variant, the WHO urges countries to follow science and international health regulations" in order to avoid using travel restrictions, the organization said in a statement.
"The speed and transparency of the South African and Botswana governments in informing the world of the new variant are to be commended," said the WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti.
"The WHO stands with African countries which had the courage to boldly share life-saving public health information, helping protect the world against the spread of COVID-19," she said.
