The Brazilian government announced this Friday that “Will close air borders” from next Monday to six countries in Africa to prevent the spread of the new variant of coronavirus, called Omicron.
“We are going to protect Brazilians in this new phase of the pandemic”Chief of Staff Ciro Nogueira said on Twitter after a meeting between various ministries to address the situation.
As detailed, the restriction that will be made official this Saturday “Will reach passengers from” South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe, located in the south of the continent, where the variant was detected for the first time.
Earlier this Friday, the Brazilian health regulator, Anvisa, had urged to take measures against the new strain: “Considering the epidemiological impact that the new variant could have on the world stage (…) it is recommended the immediate suspension of all the flights coming ” of the six countries involved.
President Jair Bolsonaro promised on Friday afternoon “Rational measures” to contain the entry into the country of the new variant, after ruling out the closure of airports.
Anvisa also recommended the “Temporary suspension of the authorization to disembark in Brazil to foreigners who have transited through those countries in the last 14 days ”and a quarantine for Brazilians who are returning from that region of Africa.
Nogueira’s message did not specify on those points.
Flight restriction It was decided jointly by the Chief of Staff and the Ministries of Health, Infrastructure, and Justice.
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