Omicron Variant: FG Reacts to British Travel Ban, Alleges Most Infected Travellers From UK
- The Omicron variant is said to be more deadly than the Delta variant and has reportedly been detected in more countries now
- Recently, the federal government reacted angrily to the recent ban by Canada and other countries due to the spread of the new variant
- FG disclosed that those who tested positive for COVID-19 were inbound passengers from the United Kingdom
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On Sunday, December 5, the federal government ruled out the possibility of restricting foreign travellers from visiting Nigeria despite travel bans on the country by Canada, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
This is just as the government stated that most of the in-bound passengers that tested positive for COVID-19 were from the UK.
The Punch reports that the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, made this disclosure during an interview on Sunday.
Source: Getty Images
Ehanire described as unfortunate the reaction of some countries to the Omicron strain.
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WHO's position
He noted that even the World Health Organisation had said recently that countries should focus more on collaboration rather than shutting borders.
The minister said:
“At the moment we have no plans restricting anybody coming from another country."
Omicron case in Nigeria
But the minister said the Omicron strain could not yet be declared as a deadly strain because no deaths had so far been recorded across the world.
Ehanire added:
“We are watching what the science community is saying and of course not rushing to judgment and we are also not applauding any lockdowns or any prohibitions or banning of flights or movement of people until we know more.”
The minister noted further that the government had tightened its mechanism for spotting fake results and vaccination cards.
COVID-19: FG reacts to UK's new travel advisory on vaccination
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that the federal government had debunked claims that the government of the United Kingdom does not recognise various COVID-19 vaccines used in Nigeria.
The executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, said contrary to this claim, the UK government recognised all vaccines administered in Nigeria.
Faisal made the clarification in Abuja on Tuesday, September 21, at the weekly press briefings on the COVID-19 vaccination campaign which was attended by Legit.ng reporter.
Source: Legit.ng
