Multiple countries have restricted entry from the southern African region, while others have locked down their borders to stop the spread of the Omicron strain.
Addressing the issue, the UK announced pre-departure tests for all arrivals demanding they be done a maximum of 48 hours before departure. This prompted major concerns from the travel industry: British Airways and Airlines UK have already blasted the decision, saying it is a "devastating blow" to tourism.
In the meantime, the Omicron variant has been detected in at least 38 countries and all continents except Antarctica. It is believed that Omicron may be more transmissible than previous variants due to its mutations, but according to South African medical authorities, cases of the strain have been mild.
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