Photo: WBZ NewsRadio/James Rojas
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A new travel ban on Soth Africa, and seven other nearby countries went into effect on Monday in the United States and some travelers at Logan Airport say they support the White House's decision.
The goal of the ban is to slow the spread of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19. It was first discovered in South Africa last week.
The restrictions apply to South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi.
On Monday morning, some travelers that WBZ NewsRadio spoke to said they're not too worried about the new variant, while others said they support the country taking action. As of Monday morning, officials have not detected the new variant in the United States.
READ MORE: Effort To Remove Falmouth Wind Turbines Gains Ground
Andrew was on his way to California and said he supports the new restrictions. He compared it to the travel ban imposed on China after the outbreak in 2020.
"It's risky and you want to make sure everybody stays safe, and you want to limit your exposure as much as possible, so I think what they're doing is smart," said Andrew.
He added he supports the country taking a proactive approach with the variant. President Joe Biden called the new restrictions a precautionary measure.
However, the World Health Organization said countries should avoid travel bans that place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods.
WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas (@JamesRojasNews) Reports:
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App