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By Canadian Press

Variant prompts ban on travellers from southern Africa

Nov 26, 2021 | 12:01 PM

OTTAWA – Canada has banned visitors from southern Africa after the discovery of a new variant of concern in the region.

The new variant, deemed Omicron, first emerged in South Africa and coincided with a steep rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in that region in recent weeks, according to the World Health Organization.

Meanwhile, Global Affairs will issue an advisory to discourage non-essential travel to South Africa and neighbouring countries.

Currently, there are no direct flights from South Africa to Canada.

Opposition parties and provincial premiers have called for strict border measures to prevent cases of the potentially dangerous new variant from being imported into Canada.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2021.

The Canadian Press