Israel said on Saturday that it would ban all foreigners from entry into the country, becoming the first country to completely shut its borders in response to the new Covid-19 variant.
The middle eastern country also intends to use counter-terrorism technology in order to contain the spread of the Omicron variant.
According to a statement from Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, the ban would last 14 days and is pending government approval.
The ban is expected to come into effect between Sunday and Monday, following the travel ban on most African states on Friday.
Omicron, first detected in South Africa, has been dubbed a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization, as it is unclear how effective the widespread Covid-19 vaccines are against it.
So far, Omicron has been detected in Belgium, Botswana, Hong Kong, Italy, Germany and Britain. But despite the rush to impose travel restrictions, health experts say it may be too late to stop the variant from circulating globally.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.