A new coronavirus variant identified in southern Africa is leading to a new round of travel restrictions just as globally many had finally begun to ease. The risks of the variant, called Omicron, are largely unknown. But the World Health Organization has called it a “variant of concern” and governments around the world are not

South Korea will increase the number of flights into the country from China to 80 from 62 per week by the end of this month, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said on Friday, in Seoul’s latest step to ease curbs on travellers from the neighbouring nation. “We will gradually expand the flights to 100 per week

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on Wednesday it plans to end mandatory Covid-19 tests for travellers from China, joining other countries in eliminating the requirements. Reuters and other outlets on Tuesday reported that the CDC plans to drop the testing requirements imposed in early January on Friday. The CDC said

China announced it will resume issuing nearly all types of visas for foreigners starting on March 15, another step in the country’s emergence from strict zero-Covid controls. The country will also resume visa-free entry for several places, including Hainan Island and for cruise ships that stop in Shanghai, and into Guangdong, for people from Hong

Covid-19 cases are rising again as a new variant begins to circulate in some parts of the world. The World Health Organization said Wednesday the rise in cases was primarily in the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and western Pacific regions. Airport screening in the United States has detected the new variant in travellers arriving from

The Covid-19 variant that may be driving a recent rise in cases in some parts of the world has earned a new nickname: “razor blade throat” Covid. That is because the variant – NB.1.8.1. or “Nimbus” – may cause painful sore throats. The symptom has been identified by doctors in the United Kingdom, India and