SA flagged as exporter of Omicron sub-variants

New Zealand says it has found three cases of the Omicron BA.5 sub-variant in travellers from SA. A week ago, it reported its first case of BA.4 – also from SA. Those two sub-variants now make up all of SA's infections and are driving a new wave there. However, Business Insider reports that unlike when the original Omicron was first discovered in SA, it is probably too late to impose travel bans, even if any country had an appetite for such measures. SA is now confirmed to be an active exporter of both new Omicron sub-variants, BA.4 and BA.5 – but even countries that had some of the harshest border measures in 2021 seem unlikely to repeat history and impose travel restrictions on SA. Known as ‘Fortress New Zealand’ during the pandemic, New Zealand has finally opened its borders and it seems there is little prospect that it will impose specific restrictions on SA.

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