After the USA decided to ban noncitizens travelling from South Africa, many other countries are also restricting their borders. These new variants of COVID-19 posses higher risks and can weaken our current vaccines as well.
One example of such a case is Johnson & Johnson’s new vaccine. Many experts are considering this new vaccine to offer around 85% effective protection against COVID-19. However, its efficacy rate dropped in South Africa as most of its cases are due to the new variant. Many studies have already suggested that these variants can weaken the effectiveness of current vaccines.
A highly transmissible variant B.1.351 has already spread to more than 30 countries around the world. In addition, the United States also reported two cases of this variant in this week.
Dr Anthony S. Fauci added on the current situation that new variants are a “wake-up call” to all of us. Many countries are also currently trying to slow the spread of multiple variants of COVID.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also announced that many flights from Mexico and Caribbean nations would remain suspended. Moreover, International travelers must show their coronavirus test reports and wait for up to three days in approved hotels.
Many countries like France and Germany have also issued some new border restrictions. France is closing its borders to all non-EU countries from Sunday. Germany has already restricted travelers from countries like Portugal, Brazil, South Africa, etc.
The spreading of such new variants has added more urgency in vaccine rollout programmes all over the world. Currently, Biden administration is also trying to accelerate the vaccination drive of the United States.
