Kenya Allows Flights from Countries Affected by Omicron Covid-19 Variant

Kenya insists it will not ban flights from southern African countries over the new Omicron coronavirus variant.

Several countries including the European Union, the US, Italy, Israel, UAE, and the UK have already banned flights from South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe following the discovery of the new COVID-19 variant.

The new B.1.1.529 variant believed to have originated in South Africa carries 32 mutations, making it highly infectious.

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) director-general Gilbert Kibe says the country has opted for stricter measures for travelers from these countries instead of banning flights.

Travelers from the region as well as Hong Kong are required to present negative COVID-19 test results obtained 96 hours before arrival.

“All travelers from Southern African states must be fully vaccinated and possess a PCR negative test result to be allowed entry into Kenya without quarantine,” said Kibe.

During his State of the Nation Address on Tuesday, President Kenyatta condemned the knee-jerk reactions by European nations, saying banning travelers from countries affected by the new variant is not a solution to fighting the virus.

“Don’t lock the borders for us Africans, no one will be safe from COVID-19 until we are all safe. COVID-19 will not be defeated by lockdowns or by shutting off parts of the world that we think are problematic,” Uhuru said.