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- Airline passengers who tried to leave South Africa were left stranded at the airport because of cancellation of flights
- The World Health Organization called on the international community to desist from imposing travel restrictions on southern African countries in response to the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus
Travellers from southern African countries were left stranded at the airport because of cancellation of flights. This was caused by the travel bans on account of the emergence of a new coronavirus strain, Omicron.
Passengers described the situation as a nightmare and vented their frustration for forcing them to cool their heels in the crowded airport without proper amenities.
Travelers are expected to pay up to 1,500 rand (US$92) for a PCR test. The result of the test is made available in two hours.
The World Health Organization called on the international community to desist from imposing travel restrictions on southern African countries in response to the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus. It may be noted that the exact characteristics of the Omicron strain have to be ascertained by the scientific community.
