"It will not stop the spread of Omikron" WHO warns of travel bans

The World Health Organization has warned that the travel ban will not stop the spread of the new mutant Omicron, noting that these decisions "could negatively affect global health efforts during the pandemic."

The World Health Organization warned, on Tuesday, that a travel ban would not stop the spread of the mutant "Omicron", but advised people at risk of severe illness or death if they contract the infection, not to travel to areas where the virus is spreading.

People who have not been fully vaccinated, or who have no evidence that they have been infected with SARS or Covid, are at high risk of severe disease and death, including those aged 60 years and over and those with With comorbidities that increase the risk of severe infection (such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes), their travel should be postponed to areas experiencing rapid transmission of the virus.”

She explained that, as of November 28, "56 countries have established travel procedures aimed at delaying the transmission of the new mutant to them."

The organization considered that "a general travel ban will not prevent the spread of the mutant mutatorium worldwide, and it places a heavy burden on life and livelihoods."

She added that such decisions "could negatively impact global health efforts during a pandemic, by discouraging countries from reporting and sharing epidemiological data."

Several countries have taken decisions to ban flights, especially those coming from South Africa and neighboring countries, where the new mutant was first detected.

More generally, the organization called on all travelers to "be vigilant", vaccinate and follow public health rules regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or not, in particular by using protective masks, practicing physical distancing measures, and avoiding crowded and poorly ventilated places.

And the World Health Organization's regional office in Africa called on Sunday to "keep the borders open" after South Africa appealed to the international community to "immediately and urgently lift" travel restrictions imposed on it after the detection of the mutant Omicron.