Morocco Bans Travelers from South Africa Amid New COVID Variant Concerns

The variant, designated B.1.1.529 by the WHO, has a large number of mutations, according to researchers, raising concerns about its transmissibility, severity and potential vaccine resistance.

Fearing contamination and to preserve Morocco’s achievements in managing the Covid-19 pandemic, the Moroccan authorities have decided to ban access to the national territory for any passenger from South Africa.

In addition to South Africa, this concerns Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad.