Thailand bans travellers from 8 African countries over new Covid variant

Thailand said Saturday it will ban travellers from eight southern African countries where a new Covid-19 strain has emerged.

The World Health Organization has named the new “variant of concern” Omicron, and scientists are racing to understand it and whether vaccines need adjustments.

The variant has already reached Asia and Europe with one case in Hong Kong and a confirmed infection in Belgium.

Thailand’s disease control department said people from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe would be barred entry from December.

From Saturday they will be unable to register to enter the country.