Europe seeks to stop the new waves of covid-19 infections 2:18
(CNN) -
The UK announced on Thursday that six African countries will be added to England's travel "red list" after the UK Health Security Agency raised concerns about a new variant of the coronavirus found in South Africa.
UK Health Minister Sajid Javid said flights to the UK from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini and Zimbabwe will be suspended from noon on Friday and all six countries will be added to the red list.
"As of noon tomorrow, six African countries will be added to the red list, flights will be temporarily banned and travelers from the UK must be quarantined," Javid said in a videotaped statement.
New variant of coronavirus detected in South Africa with "significant immune evasion and increased transmissibility"
A country that is on the 'red list' means that UK residents and British and Irish nationals arriving home from that red list starting point must undergo a 10-day hotel quarantine at their own expense.
"UKHSA is investigating a new variant, more data is needed but we are taking precautions now," said Javid, adding that the new variant identified in South Africa "may be more transmissible" than the delta strain and "the vaccines we currently have may be less effective ".
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Despite showing cause for concern, Javid stressed that the UK "has not detected any of this new variant" in the country so far.
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