'COVID-19 Variant Emerges' South Africa Joins UK in Widespread Entry Bans

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Onyu Lim] South Africa, where a new variant of the coronavirus (COVID-19) was discovered, is also being denied entry in various places, similar to the UK.

According to Xinhua News Agency on the 22nd (local time), South Africa was blocked from air entry by at least five countries including Germany, Turkey, Israel, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia on that day.

The South African COVID-19 variant is currently named the '501.V2 variant' and was discovered in the Eastern Cape province, affecting KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape provinces.

Earlier, Zweli Mkhize, South Africa's Minister of Health, expressed concern that this variant is the main cause of the recent second wave, with many young people being infected, unlike the first wave.

A similar variant was found in the UK, and many countries have blocked flights originating from the UK.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.