In response to the article on the African Travel and Tourism Association’s ongoing lobbying efforts to remove sub-Saharan countries from the UK’s Red List, MD of Wild Wings Safaris, Onne Vegter, comments:
“The main issue is that the B.1.351 variant found in South Africa is considered a variant of concern. That is what will keep South Africa on the red list.
However, the experience in South Africa argues against it being a variant of much concern, considering how easily we managed to end the second wave here without vaccines or strict lockdown measures. Gyms, restaurants, hairdressers, shops were all open. Borders were open, no travel bans, taxis and malls were full. In fact, indoor venues were busier than normal because outdoor areas like parks and beaches were closed. Simply by wearing masks and limiting large crowds South Africa was able to contain this variant effectively, which should give us hope that this variant should not be of major concern.”
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