Coronavirus: Omicron variant prompts South Korea, Australia, Japan, Philippines, Thailand to impose travel curbs

The restrictions are similar to those brought in by Singapore, Hong Kong and elsewhere after the discovery of the new variant triggered global alarm on Friday

Scientists around the world are racing to determine how the new Omicron variant is likely to behave in people who have been vaccinated or previously infected

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A plane prepares to land as villagers look on in the Philippines. Photo: EPA

Published: 1:00pm, 27 Nov 2021Updated: 11:23pm, 27 Nov 2021

South Korea said on Saturday it will restrict arrivals from South Africa and seven other nations over concern about a new Covid-19 variant identified in the region.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said that from November 28 the issuance visas for those from eight nations in southern Africa would be restricted while South Korean citizens returning from the region would be quarantined.

The eight countries subject to the new restrictions are South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, eSwatini, Mozambique and Malawi.

People stand in line to get a Covid-19 test at a screening clinic in Seoul, South Korea, on November 26. Photo: EPA-EFE

Australia also imposed new restrictions on Saturday on people who have been to nine southern African countries, a day after the Philippines made a similar move, as the new Omicron variant raises concerns about another wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

Effective immediately, the Australian government will ban non-citizens who have been in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, eSwatini, the Seychelles, Malawi and Mozambique from entering and will require supervised 14-day quarantines for Australian citizens and their dependents returning from the countries, said Health Minister Greg Hunt.

These restrictions also apply to people such as international students and skilled migrants arriving from countries with which Australia has travel bubbles, who have been in any of the nine countries within the past 14 days.

Travellers walk near an electronic flight notice board displaying cancelled flights at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on November 27 after several countries banned flights from South Africa following the discovery of a new Covid-19 variant, Omicron. Photo: AFP

“If the medical evidence shows that further actions are required, we will not hesitate to take them. And that may involve strengthening or expanding the restrictions,” Hunt said.