Economy
Kenya to issue S. Africa flight ban verdict over corona
Monday November 29 2021
Summary
- Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth said Kenya’s reaction to the new Covid-19 variant, which spread rapidly and can be transmitted between fully vaccinated people, will be known today.
- South Africa has protested against the flight bans, terming them “unjustified” and “punishment” for its scientific transparency.
- There are tens of direct flights monthly from South Africa to Kenya, underlying the importance of the route to carriers like Kenya Airways.
Kenya will make a decision today on whether to join the US and EU member States in imposing new travel restrictions on South Africa and seven other southern African countries due to a highly infectious new coronavirus strain.
Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth said Kenya’s reaction to the new Covid-19 variant, which spread rapidly and can be transmitted between fully vaccinated people, will be known today.
South Africa has protested against the flight bans, terming them “unjustified” and “punishment” for its scientific transparency.
Kenya’s reaction comes days after President Uhuru Kenyatta made an official visit to South Africa with the aim of boosting trade between the two countries, culminating in the inking of eight bilateral deals.
The deals offer local businesses more opportunities to increase trading and swing trade fortunes that have for years been in favour of South Africa.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) earlier declared the new variant to be “of concern”, naming it Omicron amid growing international panic about the strain, which scientists believe is more transmissible and has an increased risk of reinfection.
US officials said flights from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi will be blocked,…