New COVID-19 variant prompts Canada to ban travel from South Africa, several other countries

OTTAWA – Canada has banned visitors from southern Africa after the discovery of a new variant of concern in the region.

The new variant, deemed Omicron, first emerged in South Africa and coincided with a steep rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in that region in recent weeks, according to the World Health Organization.

Meanwhile, Global Affairs will issue an advisory to discourage non-essential travel to South Africa and neighbouring countries.

Currently, there are no direct flights from South Africa to Canada.