The US is ready to lift a travel ban it imposed on eight southern African nations over a new coronavirus strain.
The White House said the 29 November measure, affecting South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini and Malawi, would be lifted by New Year’s Eve.
The official said the curbs were no longer necessary amid a US explosion of cases of the Omicron variant.
The variant now makes up most of all new US cases.
“The restrictions gave us time to understand Omicron and we know our existing vaccines work against Omicron, esp boosted,” tweeted White House assistant press secretary Kevin Munoz.
The travel ban was first imposed by the EU and UK. The US and a host of other countries followed suit.
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