Czech Republic imposes travel restrictions on people returning from some African states

The Czech Republic has imposed travel restrictions on people returning from a number of southern African nations after an upsurge in cases of a heavily mutated coronavirus variant which have caused alarm among global health officials.

Travellers who spent more than 12 hours in South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Zambia or Mozambique in the past 14 days will have to quarantine for 10 days upon entry to the Czech Republic. The restriction is valid for citizens from EU member states as well. Citizens from third countries who do not have long term residence in the Czech Republic will not be allowed entry.

The strain, first identified in Botswana, is believed to be behind a resurgence in Covid-19 cases in South Africa over the past week. There are fears that current vaccines may be less effective against it.