Singapore currently has no cases of the new variant. (File)
Singapore:
Health officials said Singapore would restrict arrivals from seven African countries on Friday, after South Africa discovered a new Covid-19 variant with a large number of mutations.
All non-Singaporeans and those without permanent residence in the city with recent travel history to the seven countries will be barred from entering or transiting through Singapore, the Ministry of Health said.
The ministry said the new restrictions, which will take effect from Sunday, apply to South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Singaporeans and foreigners with permanent resident status in the city of 5.5 million people from these countries can still enter, but will have to undergo a 10-day quarantine period.
Singapore currently has no cases of the new variant, but officials are looking to “take the necessary precautions to reduce the risk” of it spreading to the country, the ministry said.
The city-state has had a mild outbreak of Covid-19, reporting nearly 260,000 cases and 681 deaths.
Scientists in South Africa announced the discovery of the variant labeled B.1.1.529 on Thursday, and are blaming it for an increase in infections.
In response, Britain announced a travel ban from six South African countries.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from an aggregated feed.)
