Lithuanian Health Minister Arūnas Dulkys has stated that the government has no immediate plans to impose a ban on international flights over the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reports.
The Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus was first reported to the World Health Organization by South Africa last week, and early evidence suggests it may have a higher re-infection risk, but the symptoms to initially infected people remain mild according to South African doctors.
«Today, our decisions are what they are,» Dulkys told reporters on Monday, November 29, adding that there were no direct flight between Lithuania and South Africa.
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Last Friday, November 26, Lithuania announced that travellers from South Africa and its neighbouring countries would be subject to stricter requirements: they will need to self-isolate and take two Covid-19 tests, on the third and seventh day after the arrival.
The rules apply to people who have travelled to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, and Eswatini. A number of countries have instituted similar requirements to slow down the spread of the Omicron variant, while others have banned entry to all foreign nationals.
The article originally appeared on LRT English: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1552816/lithuania-will-not-ban-travel-over-omicron-variant-health-minister
Lithuania: No immediate flight ban due to Omicron variant planned
