UK Bans Travel From South Africa Over New CCP Virus Variant

A passenger walks past a sign directing people to a CCP virus testing site adjacent to Terminal 1 of Manchester Airport in Manchester, northern England, on Dec. 3, 2020. Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images

The United Kingdom has banned travellers from South Africa to prevent the spread of a new variant of the CCP virus linked to the country.

“From 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020, visitors arriving into England who have been in or transited through South Africa in the previous 10 days will not be permitted entry and direct flights will be banned,” the UK government said late Wednesday.