The United States Government confirmed that it will lift travel restrictions on eight southern African countries at 12 am on Friday, December 31.
The US recently barred all non-US citizens who had been in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi over the new COVID-19 variant that was detected in South Africa.
The announcement was made by the Head of Public Diplomacy at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation Clayson Monyela, who said in a tweet that the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, informed the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor about this decision.
US Secretary of State called Minister Naledi Pandor this afternoon to inform us of this decision. We welcome this development & hope that the @UAE & the rest will follow in the coming days. https://t.co/R3qucDyOQH
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) December 24, 2021
Also read: Canada lifts travel ban on 10 African countries including SA
White House spokesman, Kevin Munoz, also said in a tweet that this decision was recommended by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
“The restrictions gave us time to understand Omicron and we know our existing vaccines work against Omicron,” the tweet said.
On Dec. 31, @POTUS will lift the temporary travel restrictions on Southern Africa countries. This decision was recommended by @CDCgov. The restrictions gave us time to understand Omicron and we know our existing vaccines work against Omicron, esp boosted. https://t.co/NdRTtntRuE
— Kevin Munoz (@KMunoz46) December 24, 2021
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