Following fears about the spread of the novel Omicron coronavirus type, Canada prohibited travelers from Nigeria, Egypt, and Malawi on Tuesday, bringing the total number of African countries targeted by Ottawa to ten.
“Foreign people who have transited or remained in these ten countries in the last two weeks are not allowed to enter Canada,” Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said during a press conference.
According to the administration, the legislation will take effect on Wednesday.
Any Canadians or permanent residents who have visited one of the ten countries will be required to quarantine and take a COVID test upon arrival.
All air travelers entering from outside Canada, except those from the United States, will henceforth be tested for Covid-19 at their port of entry and segregated until their test results are ready, according to Duclos.
The Omicron version was first reported to the World Health Organization less than a week ago after being discovered in southern Africa earlier in November, fueling global worries of a coronavirus epidemic that has killed more than five million people and ravaged economies throughout the world.
“The pandemic is far from ending,” said Transportation Minister Omar Alghabra. “Travel policies are subject to change at any time.”
All passengers from Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe were barred from entering Canada on Friday.
On Sunday, Canada reported that it had found the novel Omicron strain in two patients who had just been to Nigeria.
After more than 50 nations enacted similar steps, the WHO cautioned on Tuesday that travel bans will not halt the spread of the new type.
A total of 1,791,902 coronavirus cases have been documented in Canada.