Get the latest BPR news delivered free to your inbox daily. SIGN UP HERE
The World Health Organization has strongly responded to the travel bans imposed on African countries due to the latest COVID variant which has led to mass hysteria as well as the prospect for the return of the oppressive measures that were imposed at the beginning of the pandemic despite a top researcher’s insistence that there is no need to panic.
While Americans were enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday, the media served up a massive helping of fear and dread over the Omicron strain, a rapidly spreading variant with dozens of mutations leading President Joe Biden to announce a travel ban on seven South African countries, a move that during the previous administration would have been decried as racist.
The hypocritical overreaction from the White House, along with other nations including the United Kingdom which have implemented similar bans, will be devastating to the African economies and was sharply rebuked by the WHO as well as the president of South Africa who ripped the “completely unjustified” restrictions of movement, urging others to not follow in Biden’s footsteps.
In a Sunday statement, the WHO’s regional director for Africa urged moderation over Omicron.
“Travel restrictions may play a role in slightly reducing the spread of COVID-19 but place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti. “If restrictions are implemented, they should not be unnecessarily invasive or intrusive, and should be scientifically based, according to the International Health Regulations which is a legally binding instrument of international law recognized by over 190 nations.”
.@WHO stands with #African nations & calls for borders to remain open.
As countries impose flight bans on southern African nations due to concerns over the new #OmicronVariant, WHO urges countries to follow science & health regulations. #COVID19 https://t.co/avUuOJok2b
— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) November 28, 2021
Moeti added, “With the Omicron variant now detected in several regions of the world, putting in place travel bans that target Africa attacks global solidarity. COVID-19 constantly exploits our divisions. We will only get the better of the virus if we work together for solutions,”
The first woman to be elected as the region’s WHO director was joined by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa who criticized the bans as being “not informed by science” during a Sunday speech.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is calling for all travel bans against South Africa to be lifted immediately. This includes its neighbours. Ramaphosa says these bans will do more harm than good. #DStv403 #eNCA pic.twitter.com/OQISZlY6Le
— eNCA (@eNCA) November 29, 2021
“These restrictions are completely unjustified and unfairly discriminate against our country and our southern African sister countries,” Ramaphosa said. “The prohibition of travel is not informed by science, nor will it be effective in preventing the spread of this variant.”
“The only thing the prohibition on travel will do is to further damage the economies of the affected countries, and undermine the ability to respond to, and also to recover from, the pandemic,” he added.
“We call upon these countries that have imposed travel bans on our country and on our other southern African sister countries to immediately and urgently reverse their decisions and lift the bans they have imposed before any further damage is done on our economies and to the livelihoods of our people,” he said.
The insistence that the new variant merits such draconian measures has been contradicted by Dr. Angelique Coetzee who serves as the chairwoman of the South African Medical Association and who downplayed the severity of Omicron when she spoke with media outlets over the weekend while criticizing the “knee jerk reaction” of governments and their travel bans.
"I can promise you other countries, when they pick up a new variant, they're going to be very careful before they announce it, looking at what happened to us"
Strong words from Dr Angelique Coetzee from the South African @SAMedicalAssoc reacting to travel bans. #Omicron pic.twitter.com/SmrASoml0p
— Luxmy Gopal (@luxmy_g) November 27, 2021
Biden is expected to deliver remarks on the response to Omicron on Monday.
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Chris Donaldson is an ordinary American who is concerned about rampant corruption as well as the ongoing attacks on our way of life by those who have contempt for our hard-earned freedoms. A Navy veteran, he has been a frequent contributor to conservative websites and resides in Florida.
- Columbia U. president finally gives the OK for cops to break up pro-Hamas brats’ protest - April 19, 2024
- ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith defends Trump’s controversial remarks about Black people: ‘He was telling the truth’ - April 19, 2024
- Ex-NFL star Antonio Brown attacks ‘cracker of the day’ Caitlin Clark - April 19, 2024
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
