The new Omicron COVID-19 variant is concerning scientists, prompting countries and airlines to impose travel restrictions from a number of African nations.
On Friday, the airline said it would not allow passengers to board flights from South Africa and Zimbabwe.
November 26, 2021.
The carrier gave more information on its website.
Passengers who are booked on flights from airports in either country will not be accepted until further notice.
The flight that was scheduled to leave on Friday at 9:35 pm took off at 1:00 am. The delayed flight did not get a response from the country.
The airline said on its website that it will still transport passengers to South Africa and Zimbabwe in line with current restrictions.
Zimbabwe and South Africa have been added to the list of "Exceptional Red List Countries" by the Ministry of Public Health of the Kingdom of Qatar.
The World Health Organization is concerned that the new COVID-19 variant is more transmissible.
The Omicron variant, B. 1.1.529, was designed by the WHO and is a "variant of concern" and countries like the US, UK, and the Netherlands are banning passengers from places like South Africa, Botswana, and Lesotho. Researchers in South Africa detected the variant on November 9 and reported it to the WHO on November 24.
The WHO said on Friday that preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant.
The airline and the airport confirmed that two flights from Cape Town to Amsterdam were not allowed to leave the runway. The passengers were shuttled to the test center to take the test.
