Senior citizens and people with illnesses that can lead to severe Covid-19 should postpone their travel plans, if they have not been vaccinated. Countries, however, should not ban international travel as it could disincentivise countries to report their coronavirus data, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated, according to the British public broadcaster BBC.
WHO released advice on for international traffic in relation to the virus SARS-CoV-2, Omicron variant (B.1.1.529), on Tuesday, November 30.
«Persons who are unwell, or who have not been fully vaccinated or do not have proof of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and are at increased risk of developing severe disease and dying, including people 60 years of age or older or those with comorbidities that present increased risk of severe COVID-19 (e.g. heart disease, cancer and diabetes) should be advised to postpone travel to areas with community transmission,» the organisation’s advice reads.
Read also: Lithuania: No immediate flight ban due to Omicron variant planned
As to countries banning travel from South Africa and its neighbouring countries, WHO advised against such measures. «Blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread, and they place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods. (..) In addition, they can adversely impact global health efforts during a pandemic by disincentivising countries to report and share epidemiological and sequencing data,» BBC quoted the organisation as stating.
WHO advises unvaccinated, Covid-vulnerable people to postpone travel
