The EU aims to stop air travel from the southern African region amid rising concern about a new Covid-19 variant detected in South Africa, EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday, APA reports citing The Independent.
"The Commission will propose, in close coordination with Member States, to activate the emergency brake to stop air travel from the southern African region due to the variant of concern B.1.1.529," she said in a tweet this morning.
The variant has a "very unusual constellation" of mutations, which are concerning because they could help it evade the body's immune response and make it more transmissible, South African scientists say.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said last night he was “deeply concerned” about the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant in Southern Africa.
The World Health Organisation prepares to meet in response to concerns around it.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Health said no cases had yet been identified in Europe so far.
The Munster rugby team have been put on high alert amid growing concerns about a worrying new Covid variant, which is prevalent in South Africa.
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