US announces travel restrictions over new COVID-19 variant

This is the first news in many months that has me nervous. I had been toying with a number of options for Christmas and New Year; but I think I will sit back and wait and watch the news on the African Travel Ban before I go forward with anything.

James, monitoring the developments for further clarity sounds like a good plan to me.

So far, only one case of the Omnicron variant has been found in Europe. It was in Belgium.

Experts think it is just a matter of time before more cases are found.

The EU has suggested all flights from southern Africa be suspended and all countries in the EU agreed.

I'm in the UK and it is scary because mask wearing is very lax here.

Not in the least surprised.

Frank II, best of luck with the rest of your trip.

Totally understandable, considering how incredibly effective travel bans have been at keeping other variants out of the US. /s

It’s also been found in Belgium and Israel, so why aren’t flights to and from there stopped? It’s harder in Europe with no physical borders.

Frank - sorry, most English are incapable of following good advice / the law. I haven’t been anywhere indoors without a mask since the pandemic started, but I was in the minority in the supermarket yesterday. I haven’t used public transport either.

I'm hoping my Dec 28th trip to Egypt isn't affected but it's out of my hands so trying not to stress. I so wish Covid would just go away already!!!!!!! 😭😭

JILL, that is stressful. if your trip has to be canceled due to travel restrictions beyond your control, can you get any refunds for your upfront costs - or at least credits for future travel?

The spread of this new variant is a matter of time.

The BBC has just reported that two cases--in Chelmsford and Nottingham--have been found in the UK.

New restrictions announced tonight in England. Arrivals to UK - everybody - will have a PCR test within 2 days and must completely isolate until a negative result; several countries now back on the RED list including 4 more today after the first announcement yesterday which involve 14 day quarantine at official quarantine hotel, mask mandate on transport and in shops.

I think this is "your cat is a little bit sick" and fully expect more daily announcements of restrictions.

I think this is "your cat is a little bit sick" and fully expect more
daily announcements of restrictions.

Is this an actual English idiom? If so, I love it. (I did a google search, but found only much about...sick cats).

In any event, I agree that there will be much new/many changes about this in coming days.

Never mind, just read Johnson’s news conference. I guess the UK.gov website hasn’t updated yet.

What a pain. Understandable, but we, like you, are leaving in late December…thinking over postponing. 😓

Azra,

no not really. It is the old joke. Person goes off on holiday leaving cat with somebody who volunteers to care for it,

Cat dies. Person gets a call, "Your cat is off its food". Another call a day later, "your cat is a little bit unwell". Then "your cat is not doing well" "Your cat died."

Or something like that, I don't remember, and its my bedtime.

I'm just waiting for the next Boris announcement.

This variant also has me more concerned. I so hope as it gets studied more it’s not as concerning as suspected. All about those those “spike proteins”!? And yes…it’s likely here in US. Trying to be realistic living with covid!

Anti-Viral meds could be a game changer.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03074-5