Covid: South Africa isolated after discovery of the new variant

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 22 - South Africa is increasingly isolated after the new coronavirus variant discovered, different from that of Great Britain, led to a travel ban in the country. This was reported by Al Jazeera, who recalled how Israel, Turkey, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland are among the nations that have interrupted air connections to and from South Africa, with a decision that represented a serious blow to the national tourism industry on arrival. of summer. According to health officials and local scientists who lead the strategy against the virus, the new variant - known as 501.V2 - is dominant among the recent infections confirmed in the second wave taking place in the country and, like the British one, appears to have greater transmissibility. South African researchers are studying whether Covid-19 vaccines will also provide protection against the new strain. The country confirms to date 930,711 cases and 24,907 deaths linked to the pandemic. These are the highest figures on the African continent. (HANDLE).