UK temporarily ban flights from Africa over Covid-19 variant worries

Singapore on Friday also moved to restrict travel from South Africa and nearby nations, following Israel, which acted late Thursday after the U.K. announced its measures

The U.K. will temporarily ban flights from South Africa and five neighboring countries over worries about a new, dramatically different Covid-19 variant recently identified in the region. 

The travel restrictions go into effect at noon Friday and are a precautionary measure to keep the spread of the new variant in check, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said. The six African countries will be placed on the U.K.’s red list as of Sunday, requiring travelers to quarantine in hotels upon arrival.

Singapore on Friday also moved to restrict travel from South Africa and nearby nations, following Israel, which acted late Thursday after the U.K.