UK adds 6 African countries to travel red list over new Covid-19 strain

Unused check-in desks at Heathrow airport.

Unused check-in desks at Heathrow airport Terminal 5 in west London on September 9, 2019. PHOTO | AFP

The UK has introduced new travel conditions for six African countries, including South Africa, due to growing concern over a newly discovered coronavirus variant, the Health Secretary Sajid Javid has announced.

From noon Friday, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini will be added to the travel red list and flights from those countries would be temporarily banned, he said on Thursday.