WHO names new Covid-19 variant as "Omicron"

South Africa says travel ban unjustified

On Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1529 as a "variant of concern" and has been named Omicron. This new Covid-19 variant has been detected in South Africa, Hong Kong, Israel, and Botswana.

As per the information, the World health organization (WHO) calls this a " highly transmissible virus of concern".

This is creating panic among travelers, and countries across the world have rushed to impose a travel ban and stock markets on both sides.  After which South Africa calls this "unjustified."

According to the Biden administration's official statement, it said the United States will restrict travel from South Africa and neighbouring countries effective Monday. Also, Canada said, it was closing its borders to those countries, following a ban in flights announced by British and European and others. Several other countries such as Japan, Israel, turkey, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates also tightened the traveling curbs and imposed restrictions.On Friday, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands also announced a travel ban. Also, some European countries such as Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have imposed the same.

Not only this the stock market around the world has been immediately impacted due to the new Variant. Shares and currencies in Asia's emerging markets fell sharply. In India, stock markets plunged to a 7month low as investors sold off risky assets.