Due to the Corina virus variant B.1.1.529 discovered in South Africa, the United Kingdom has banned passenger air traffic with this country and five other states. The ban takes effect on Friday afternoon.
In addition to South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Botswana are also affected. Sajid Javid, United Kingdom Minister of Health, justified the measure, among other things, by saying that there was scientific evidence that this mutation was even more contagious than the Delta variant. Furthermore, the existing vaccines may be less effective.
In this context, the German federal government already has a Ban on non-stop flights departing from South Africa, arranged. As a result, only German citizens and persons with residence or right of residence in Germany are allowed to use the connections. A 14-day quarantine must then be started. This also applies to those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered.