“Do Not Travel” Level 4 Advisory issued by US State Department for 8 Countries amid Omicron Variant

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The Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisories to South Africa and 7 nearby countries were issued by the US State Department following the new omicron variant spreading across the region. The new warning came after the WHO (World Health Organization) designated the Covid-19 omicron variant a “Variant of Concern”. However, the omicron variant was first reported to the WHO from South Africa on 24^th November. So, the US State Department issued a level four travel advisory. It is the highest-level travel advisory issued and pointed that there is a greater likelihood of life-threatening risks under this level. South African has recently experienced a sharp increase in Covid-19 infections with the omicron variant.

The US State Department’s level four “Do Not Travel” advisory includes Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. On Friday, President Joe Biden issued a statement that he is restricting travel from South Africa and 7 other countries due to the new coronavirus omicron variant. The statement said, “This morning I was briefed by my chief medical advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and the members of our COVID Response Team about the Omicron variant, which is spreading through Southern Africa. I am ordering additional air travel restrictions from South Africa and seven other countries as a precautionary measure until we have more information”.

President Biden also said, “These new restrictions will take effect on 29^th November 2021″. On Saturday morning, Dr. Anthony Fauci delivered his words in an interview on NBC’s “Weekend TODAY” that he would not be surprised if there are cases of the omicron variant already in the United States. Fauci also said, “You know, I would not be surprised if it is. We have not detected it yet. But, when you have a virus that is showing this degree of transmissibility and you’re already having travel-related cases that they’ve noted in Israel and Belgium and in other places when you have a virus like this, it almost invariably is ultimately going to go, essentially, all over”.