Saudi, Bahrain, Sudan ban flights from African countries over COVID variant

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Sudan on Sunday suspended flights with a number of African countries due to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus discovered in South Africa.

The Saudi state news agency SPA, citing a source with the Interior Ministry, said direct flights were suspended with Malawi, Zambia, Madagascar, Angola, Seychelles, Mauritius and Comoros.

On Friday, the oil-rich kingdom banned flights from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini amid fears of the high infectious Omicron variant.

Bahrain also banned passengers from Malawi, Mozambique, Angola and Zambia, according to the state news agency BNA.

Bahraini nationals and holders of valid visas to Bahrain, however, were allowed to fly to the Gulf state.

Health authorities in Sudan also banned flights from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia over the Omicron variant.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Friday that the Omicron is a "variant of concern".

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara