AGL 39.10 Decreased By ▼ -0.90 (-2.25%)
AIRLINK 129.48 Increased By ▲ 0.42 (0.33%)
BOP 6.70 Decreased By ▼ -0.05 (-0.74%)
CNERGY 4.71 Increased By ▲ 0.22 (4.9%)
DCL 8.46 Decreased By ▼ -0.09 (-1.05%)
DFML 41.00 Increased By ▲ 0.18 (0.44%)
DGKC 81.25 Increased By ▲ 0.29 (0.36%)
FCCL 32.93 Increased By ▲ 0.16 (0.49%)
FFBL 74.50 Increased By ▲ 0.07 (0.09%)
FFL 11.77 Increased By ▲ 0.03 (0.26%)
HUBC 109.77 Increased By ▲ 0.19 (0.17%)
HUMNL 13.90 Increased By ▲ 0.15 (1.09%)
KEL 5.29 Decreased By ▼ -0.02 (-0.38%)
KOSM 7.67 Decreased By ▼ -0.05 (-0.65%)
MLCF 38.18 Decreased By ▼ -0.42 (-1.09%)
NBP 64.71 Increased By ▲ 1.20 (1.89%)
OGDC 193.52 Decreased By ▼ -1.17 (-0.6%)
PAEL 25.68 Decreased By ▼ -0.03 (-0.12%)
PIBTL 7.35 Decreased By ▼ -0.04 (-0.54%)
PPL 155.00 Decreased By ▼ -0.45 (-0.29%)
PRL 25.55 Decreased By ▼ -0.24 (-0.93%)
PTC 17.40 Decreased By ▼ -0.10 (-0.57%)
SEARL 79.31 Increased By ▲ 0.66 (0.84%)
TELE 7.80 Decreased By ▼ -0.06 (-0.76%)
TOMCL 33.66 Decreased By ▼ -0.07 (-0.21%)
TPLP 8.55 Increased By ▲ 0.15 (1.79%)
TREET 16.30 Increased By ▲ 0.03 (0.18%)
TRG 57.98 Decreased By ▼ -0.24 (-0.41%)
UNITY 27.70 Increased By ▲ 0.21 (0.76%)
WTL 1.40 Increased By ▲ 0.01 (0.72%)
BR100 10,510 Increased By 64.7 (0.62%)
BR30 31,214 Increased By 24.8 (0.08%)
KSE100 98,318 Increased By 520 (0.53%)
KSE30 30,699 Increased By 218.7 (0.72%)

LONDON: Britain on Saturday confirmed its first two cases of the new Omicron strain of Covid-19, both linked to travel from southern Africa, and expanded travel restrictions on the region.

"After overnight genome sequencing, the UK Health Security Agency has confirmed that two cases of Covid-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 (Omicron) have been identified in the UK," a government statement said.

"The two cases are linked and there is a link to travel to southern Africa," it said.

One case was detected in the central English city of Nottingham, and the other in Chelmsford east of London, officials said.

"We have moved rapidly and the individuals are self-isolating while contact tracing is ongoing," Health Secretary Sajid Javid said.

He added that the government was placing another four African countries on its travel "red list" -- Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola -- effective from 4:00 am (0400 GMT) on Sunday.

Omicron: Germany announces first suspected Covid-19 variant case

Britain has already said it is banning travel from six southern African nations because of the emergence of Omicron: South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

The government was widely criticised for its travel and quarantine policy earlier in the pandemic, when it kept borders open to foreign travellers even as infection rates spiralled.

"This is a stark reminder that we are not yet out of this pandemic," Javid said, urging the public to get follow-up booster jabs of vaccines. "We will not hesitate to take further action if required."

Comments

Comments are closed.