U.S. Imposes Travel Limits on Southern Africa Over Covid Variant

(Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden imposed new travel restrictions on nations in southern Africa on Friday, joining efforts by other countries to try and slow the spread of a potentially potent new Covid-19 variant that’s roiled global markets.

The administration will restrict travel from South Africa and seven other countries starting on Monday, according to senior administration officials. In addition to South Africa, they include Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi.

The policy doesn’t apply to American citizens and lawful permanent residents, though they must still test negative prior to travel to the U.S., according to administration officials.

The WHO listed the mutated virus it named Omicron as a variant of concern Friday as several nations moved to halt travel from the region. Countries across Europe halted air travel from the region earlier in the day, as did Canada, while the S&P 500 posted its biggest slide on Friday since February.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/u-s-imposes-travel-limits-on-southern-africa-over-covid-variant/ar-AARb3PD