EU mulls Covid travel ban for southern Africa: Update

Adds member states' agreement in paragraph 5

EU member states should stop all air travel to and from southern Africa, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said today in response to the new Covid-19 variant that has raised fears around oil demand levels, helping to push down prices sharply today.

"All air travel to and from these countries should be suspended until we have a clear understanding about the danger posed by this new variant. Travellers returning from this region should respect strict quarantine rules," von der Leyen said.

"The EU's contract with the manufacturers says that the vaccine must be adapted immediately as they emerge," von der Leyen added.

EU member states retain sovereignty over travel bans for public health reasons. But von der Leyen underlined the need for EU countries to act "very swiftly, decisively and united".

Member state experts later agreed on the commission's proposal to apply the so-called "emergency break" imposing "temporary restrictions" on travel from the region. The ban would not normally affect EU citizens, long-term EU residents and certain other categories of "essential" travellers.

But the EU recommendation is not be legally binding on member states that remain responsible for implementation.

The UK government announced travel restrictions yesterday and banned flights from 12:00 GMT today from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Lesotho.

Namibia was included, on 18 November, in the EU's updated list of third countries for which Covid-19 travel restrictions should be lifted.

By Dafydd ab Iago