#15,642
Twenty-four hours ago the Netherlands became the first country to enact a travel ban to and from the UK over the recent discovery of a variant COVID strain in Southern England (see Dutch Govt Bans Travelers From UK Over COVID Variant).
Less than a day later, more than 2 dozen additional countries have reportedly announced their intentions to impose similar bans, including Canada, Italy, and India.
While this is likely to be a case of closing the barn door after the horse has escaped - since the variant has already been reported in several other countries - preliminary reports of a more transmissible B.1.1.7 variant are sufficiently worrisome (see GOG-UK Update and PHE Q&A On New COVID Variant) to have elicited a rapid international response.
Yesterday, Italy's Health Ministry announced their first detection of the B.1.1.7 variant virus (see below), and this morning they have announced a suspension of all flights to and from the UK (see COVID-19, Hope: "Order to block flights from Great Britain signed").At best, travel bans may help slow the spread of the virus, but by the time the threat has been recognised, it is almost certainly too late to stop it.
COVID-19: THE CELIO MILITARY SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENT HAS SEQUENCED THE VIRUS OF A POSITIVE SUBJECT WITH THE SAME VARIANT FOUND IN GREAT BRITAIN
Press release n. 322
Release date 20 December 2020
The Scientific Department of the Celio Military Polyclinic, which in this emergency is collaborating with the Higher Institute of Health, has sequenced the genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from a subject tested positive with the variant found in recent weeks in Great Britain .
The patient, and his cohabitant who returned from the United Kingdom in the last few days with a flight landed at Fiumicino airport, are in isolation and have followed, together with other family members and close contacts, all the procedures established by the Ministry of Health.
Overnight, Channel News Asia reported Hong Kong, India join European countries in banning flights from UK over new COVID-19 strain. And late last night Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, tweeted the following announcement:
Going even further is Saudi Arabia, which overnight announced they would be halting all international flights - and closing their borders - for a least a week due to this new COVID threat.
Ministry of Interior: Saudi Arabia Suspends All International Flights for Travelers, Except in Exceptional Cases, Temporarily for a Week, Which Can Be Extended for Another Week
Monday 1442/5/6 - 2020/12/21
Riyadh, Dec 20, 2020, SPA -- An official source at the Ministry of Interior stated that, based on what the Ministry of Health submitted regarding the spread of a new strain of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in a number of countries, until medical information about the nature of this virus becomes clear, and to take urgent measures to protect the public health of citizens and expatriates and ensure their safety, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's government has decided to take the following precautionary measures:
- First: Suspending all international flights for travelers, except in exceptional cases, temporarily for one week, which can be extended for another week, with the exception of foreign flights that are currently inside the Kingdom, they are allowed to leave.
- Second: Suspending entry to the Kingdom through land and sea ports temporarily for one week, which can be extended for another week.
- Third: Anyone who has returned from one of the European countries or any country where the new strain has appeared after 08/12/2020, as determined by the Ministry of Health must adhere to the following:
1- Home isolation for two weeks, starting from the date of entering the Kingdom.2- Take a COVID-19 test during the isolation period and retake the test every five days.
- Fourth: Anyone who has returned from or passed through a European country, or any country where the new strain has appeared, during the past three months, must take a COVID-19 test.
The movement of goods, commodities and supply chains from countries where the new strain of COVID-19 has not appeared are excluded from the above-mentioned measures, as determined by the Ministry of Health in coordination with the Ministry of Transport.
These procedures will be reviewed in light of the developments related to the pandemic, and the reports received from the Ministry of Health.
--SPA 01:10 LOCAL TIME 22:10 GMT 0021
Meanwhile, a similar COVID Variant (dubbed 501.v2) has been reported spreading in South Africa - and while details are scant - it too appears to be transmitting more efficiently, and may be responsible for rising numbers of hospitalizations and deaths (see AP story New strain of COVID-19 is driving South Africa's resurgence).
This morning Business Insider SA is reporting that Israel, Turkey, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland have all halted air travel to and from South Africa, and suggest more are likely to follow suit.
While it is too soon to know how much of an impact these new variant strains (and others that are likely to emerge in the future) will have on the pandemic, this is a reminder of just how quickly things can change when you are dealing with a novel virus.
Stay tuned.
