A new COVID-19 variant appears, Canada advances to restrict journey from southern Africa

Key takeaways: 

• Those retreating from the province will face quarantine and trial, states the government.
• Various countries moved to restrict air travel from southern Africa on Friday in reaction to the release of a new, possibly more transmissible COVID-19 variant identified in South Africa.

A new variant of the coronavirus detected in SA, Canada restricts air travel: 

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos declared today that Canada will restrict travel from seven nations in southern Africa, a province that has recorded cases of a new — and probably more contagious— coronavirus variant.

Beginning today, all foreign citizens who have visited through South

Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini or Mozambique in the least 14 days will be banned from entering Canada.

Global Affairs Canada will also publish an advisory today cautioning against all trips to the area for the foreseeable future, Duclos declared.

Canadian immigrants and permanent residents will be permitted to return — but they’ll meet a new demand that could make travel uncomfortable.

Also read: Severe climate generating unparalleled demand and difficulties for houses in B.C.

Because there are no straight flights between the province and Canada, most passengers transit through airports in Europe, the Middle East and the U.S.

Beginning today, tourists must get a molecular test in the nation they join through on their route to Canada.

Then, after arriving in Canada, inbound tourists must also get an entrance test and wait for the outcomes of that test at a selected hotel. If the test is negative, those returning passengers would be issued a quarantine for a compulsory 14 days at home. They also would be expected to go through a so-called “day eight” inspection on the eighth day of quarantine. Source – cbc.ca