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The United Kingdom has announced that six African countries, including South Africa, would be added to their red list at noon on Friday.
This followed the discovery of a new Covid19 variant that experts say is more infectious than the Delta variant and even be more resistant to current vaccines.
UK Health Minister Sajid Javid tweeted they were “busy investigating the new variant, saying more data is needed.”
However, he said the United Kingdom was taking precautionary measures and will impose a travel ban.
He said six African countries will be added to the red list, and flights will be temporarily banned, while UK travellers must quarantine.
The countries are South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Nambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana.
Meanwhile, several UK rugby teams currently in the country for the United Rugby Championships fixtures this weekend, are now reportedly scrambling to go back home.
At least two teams in the country, Scarlets and Cardiff tweeted that with the situation in South Africa changing so quickly they are looking to repatriate their staff as soon as possible.
“For concerned family and friends, please rest assured that our focus is to ensure the safety and welfare of our people,” according to Cardiff Rugby.
