The Dutch government has taken swift action on a new reported coronavirus variant found in southern Africa with all flights blocked from 12:00 PM today.
It joins the UK, Italy, Germany, and Israel in a slew of flight bans for South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Dutch people who are currently in the above countries will have the right to return home but will need to double test and quarantine upon arrival.
Minister for Health Hugo de Jonge announced the new measures today. According to him, there are still two flights en route from southern Africa.
It comes in response to the B.1.1.529 that has been detected, which one expert described to the BBC as being “the worst one we’ve seen so far.”
De Jonge told the press that uncertainty remains about the new variant. “What we need to do now is act as a precaution.”
But is the dutch government banning flights TO South Africa? No-one will say.