The political theatre of the UK’s travel ban on South Africa
The resulting travel restriction was lifted 291 days later. On Nov 25, 2021, South African scientists reported a new SARS-CoV-2 variant, B.1.1.529, that was subsequently designated omicron. Although the omicron variant has mutations that could make it less susceptible to neutralising antibody activity and possibly as transmissible as or more transmissible than the delta variant,
Classification of omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern. Nov 26, 2021.
such concerns have yet to be determined by in-vitro and in-vivo evidence. Furthermore, it is also relevant to consider that although antibody activity induced by the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) had nominal neutralising activity against the beta variant and failed to protect against mild to moderate COVID-19 due to the beta variant, the vaccine still reduced risk of severe COVID-19 due to beta or gamma variants by 80%.
- Chung H
- He S
- Nasreen S
- et al.
,
- Madhi SA
- Baillie V
- Cutland CL
- et al.
Foreign travel advice: South Africa.
Several other countries, such as Israel and the USA, swiftly followed suit with travel bans from countries in sub-Saharan Africa, citing this action as a precautionary measure.
Covid: US joins EU in restricting travel from southern Africa. Nov 27, 2021.
This unwarranted action has generated intense anger and frustration. Travel restrictions are unlikely to be able to stop the spread of coronaviruses unless countries are able to completely seal their borders to travellers from all nations. Predictably, soon after the UK travel ban announcement, cases of the omicron variant were reported in Europe,
the UK, North America, and, as of Dec 2, 2021, 25 countries in total.
Press release. First UK cases of Omicron variant identified. Nov 27, 2021.
,
,
Paradoxically, the most concerning SARS-CoV-2 variants for a highly vaccinated population would likely arise in a high transmission environment where there are high levels of vaccine coverage, such as the UK, France, or Italy, to name but a few.
Number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Europe as of November 25, 2021, by country.
,
Tracking COVID-19.
COVID-19: elimination strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand.
Elsewhere, despite selective travel bans, successive SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern have spread widely. Just 8 months after its discovery, the beta variant was present in 141 countries, including the UK.
Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 19–24 August 2021.
As of Dec 1, 2021, the delta variant dominates globally.
Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 23 November 2021.
- Grépin KA
- Ho TL
- Liu Z
- et al.
before travel bans can be imposed a variant identified in country A has most likely already spread to country B and, thereafter, globally. 2 days after South Africa’s announcement, omicron was sequenced from an unvaccinated traveller returning to Belgium from Egypt via Turkey who became symptomatic 11 days later.
She had no ties with or exposure to anyone from southern Africa.
Omicron has probably already spread globally. Countries with robust surveillance and genomics capability will be able to identify cases early; others will not. The folly of restricting travel to a handful of countries at best might only buy some time before the virus variant is eventually imported.
In November, 2021, South African scientists rapidly and transparently shared the findings of mutation and genomic sequences of the latest SARS-CoV-2 variant. Rather than applaud their generosity and openness, travel bans have had the opposite effect and could be damaging to the health response, economy, and freedom of movement. This situation puts countries such as South Africa in a difficult position, and potentially threatens future willingness to share information and weakens global solidarity. Once again, South Africa and other southern African countries have been stigmatised and will pay a heavy economic and societal price for sharing information. This experience is also likely to have a detrimental impact on the behaviour of other countries going forward.
We believe governments need to attend to their failings rather than penalise other countries unnecessarily.
Annual report 2018–2019.
Tourism and allied industries account for an estimated 1·5 million jobs and livelihoods in South Africa. 1 day after the UK’s travel red-listing of South Africa occurred, the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa and the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association did a survey of association members serving international markets. An average of 2506 cancellations had occurred among 603 respondents from tourist bookings they held over the next 4 months, representing 1·5 million cancellations in the first 48 h after the travel ban began, and 390 respondents reported ZAR940 million of lost revenue, an average of ZAR2·4 million each (Rosa N, Southern Africa Tourism Services Association, personal communication).
Updated WHO recommendations for international traffic in relation to COVID-19 outbreak. Feb 29, 2020.
Instituting public health measures to identify and manage cases of the omicron variant would be a far better investment. The UK in particular is damaging the economy of South Africa by its actions. Countless families in many countries have once again had their plans dashed by the decisions of politicians who want to be seen to be doing something rather than focusing on what they should be doing—meaningfully supporting global COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
FV reports grants from USAID, Unitaid, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), the US National Institutes of Health, ViiV, and Merck; non-financial support from Merck, ViiV, and Gilead; personal fees from Virology Education, Gilead, ViiV, Mylan, Merck, Adcock-Ingram, Aspen, Abbott, Roche, J&J, and Cipla all unrelated to the topic of this Comment. SAM reports grants and personal fees from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and grants from SAMRC, Novavax, Pfizer, and Minervax unrelated to the topic of this Comment. MMo reports consultancy fees from Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) unrelated to the topic of this Comment. MMe, GG, LB, and TdO declare no competing interests.
References
- 1.
England bans flights from South Africa, as well as SA visitors, from today due to new Covid variant. Dec 24, 2020.
- 2.
Classification of omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern. Nov 26, 2021.
- 3.
Effectiveness of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccines against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 outcomes in Ontario, Canada: test negative design study.
BMJ. 2021; 374: n1943
- 4.
Efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Covid-19 vaccine against the B.1.351 Variant.
N Engl J Med. 2021; 384: 1885-1898
- 5.
Foreign travel advice: South Africa.
- 6.
Covid: US joins EU in restricting travel from southern Africa. Nov 27, 2021.
- 7.
Belgium detects first case of new COVID variant in Europe. Reuters, Nov 26, 2021.
- 8.
Press release. First UK cases of Omicron variant identified. Nov 27, 2021.
- 9.
Canada reports North America’s first cases of omicron COVID-19 variant. The Hill, Nov 28, 2021.
- 10.
These countries have found Covid-19 variant so far. CNN, Dec 2, 2021.
- 11.
Number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Europe as of November 25, 2021, by country.
- 12.
Tracking COVID-19.
- 13.
COVID-19: elimination strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand.
- 14.
Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 19–24 August 2021.
- 15.
Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 23 November 2021.
- 16.
Evidence of the effectiveness of travel-related measures during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: a rapid systematic review.
BMJ Glob Health. 2021; 6: e004537
- 17.
The SARS epidemic and its aftermath in China: a political perspective.
in: Institute of Medicine (US) Forum on Microbial Threats Knobler S Mahmoud A Lemon S Learning from SARS: preparing for the next disease outbreak: workshop summary. National Academies Press,
Washington, DC2004 - 18.
$10bn effort to vaccinate Africa against Covid-19 falls “scandalously” short. The Times, Dec 1, 2021.
- 19.
Annual report 2018–2019.
- 20.
Updated WHO recommendations for international traffic in relation to COVID-19 outbreak. Feb 29, 2020.
Article Info
Publication History
Published: December 03, 2021
Identification
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02752-5
Copyright
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
ScienceDirect
Access this article on ScienceDirect
