South Africa Slams Travel Bans Linked to Omicron Variant

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said the travel ban on his country and others because of the Omicron variant is "discriminatory" and "unscientific." GCIS

JOHANNESBURG—South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has denounced travel bans on Southern African nations linked to the new COVID-19 variant and has called for an end to the “discriminatory” and “unscientific” restrictions.

South African scientists revealed on Nov. 25 that they had detected a new, potentially more infectious variant now known as “Omicron.” They tracked the first case to neighboring Botswana and now suspect that Omicron is driving a new wave of infections in South Africa’s Gauteng province, which includes the country’s most populous city, Johannesburg.