KUWAIT, Nov 26 (KUNA) -- The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Turkey decided Friday to bar arrivals from Southern African countries as a precaution against the new variant of coronavirus (Covid-19), B.1.1.529 or Omicron.
In Abu Dhabi, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) suspended all arriving flights from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
The suspension takes effect as from Monday, according to a joint statement by both authorities.
The Bahraini Civil Aviation Affairs said blacklisted six countries, namely South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
The authority updated the entry measures and advised those willing to travel to the Kingdom to visit the Health Ministry's website (healthalert.gov.bh).
In Amman, the Jordanian Ministry of Interior decided to bar non-Jordanian arrivals from the seven countries of South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Travelers from these countries need to spend a fortnight in a third country considered to be safer from the new variant, according to a press release from the ministry.
In Cairo, Spokesman of the Egyptian Prime Minister's Office announced travel restrictions on arrivals from the seven countries of South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Arrivals in Cairo as a transit point en route to another destination have to undergo a quick DNA test, Ambassador Nader Saad said in a press release, noting that the new restrictions are a precaution against the Omicron Variant.
Similarly, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation announced barring arrivals from the seven countries of South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
The ban includes travelers to the Kingdom of Morocco as a final or transit destination, the ministry said, noting that the preventive measure is meant to protect the gains made in the combat against Covid-19.
In Ankara, Turkish Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca announced a ban on travel from the five African countries of Botswana, Republic of South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe as of Friday night.
Earlier today, the World Health Organization (WHO) sounded the alarm about the emergence of the Omicron strain of coronavirus in Southern Africa, deeming it "a variant of concern." (end) kt.gb