Polarising broadcaster Piers Morgan has joined calls for the First World to lift the travel ban on South Africa, whose scientists may have saved millions of lives by identifying the Omicron variant first.
Piers Morgan says travel ban on South Africa is pointless
Morgan’s assertions that South Africa’s return to the UK red list was a futile exercise were met with divided opinions. In a tweet, the former Good Morning Britain host challenged UK Cabinet minister Grant Shapps — who’s in self-isolation after meeting with COVID-19 positive Australian deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce — to end “the ongoing punishment of South Africa.”
Given that Omicron is clearly everywhere in UK now, the ongoing punishment of South Africa in terms of red list travel restrictions seems pointless & particularly unfair given it was their brilliant scientists who first uncovered this variant for the world.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 9, 2021
Sort it @grantshapps
The highly transmissive Omicron variant continues to spread rapidly in the UK and South Africa. Here is a look at Thursday’s figures, shared by the countries’ respective health authorities:
UK COVID-19 cases on Thursday 9 December 2021
The #COVID19 Dashboard has been updated: https://t.co/XhspoyTG79
— UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) December 9, 2021
On 9 December, 50,867 new cases and 148 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were reported across the UK.
Our data includes the number of people receiving a first, second and booster dose of the #vaccine: pic.twitter.com/CJYDCkzQCY
South Africa COVID-19 cases on Thursday 9 December 2021
#COVID19 UPDATE: A total of 75,251 tests were conducted in the last 24hrs, with 22,391 new cases, which represents a 29.8% positivity rate. A further 22 #COVID19 related deaths have been reported, bringing total fatalities to 90,060 to date. See more here: https://t.co/ES97zVRE7W pic.twitter.com/pK9H3KDalS
— NICD (@nicd_sa) December 9, 2021
Qatar becomes first country to welcome South African travellers
As things stand, South African travellers are still restricted from crossing into International territory. Qatar, however, announced that it plans to lift the travel ban on South Africa from Sunday 12 December 2021, with flights to and from the Gulf region expected to resume in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
Qatar Airways Vice-President, Africa, Hendrik du Preez revealed that the Boeing 777 aircraft would return to the skies twice a day in Johannesburg, once daily in Cape Town and only inbound in Durban.
“Qatar Airways has worked diligently throughout the pandemic to keep flying within the ever-changing regulations across the globe and it is particularly gratifying to once again be able to carry our South African customers to visit family and friends over the festive period, or enjoy a well-earned break. We also know how important tourism is to South Africa and hope this will encourage more people to visit South Africa over the summer season,” Du Preez said.