Another one! Canada lifts SA travel ban after backlash

It all started with the UK’s decision to unleash its travel ban red list upon us after our scientists were the first to identify the Omicron COVID variant. Soon after, the US and the rest of Europe followed. So too did Canada. Over three weeks later and with billions of rand lost from our economy and tourism sector, those bans have now almost all been rescinded.

Too little, too late: Canada ends its SA travel ban

The Canadian government has announced that it will end its travel ban on South Africa and 9 other African countries, from Sunday.

Canada and other countries attempted to justify the ban by insisting that it would stop the spread of Omicron. As it turns out, the first cases of Omicron have now been traced back to the US and Europe, before our scientists even announced the variant. Nevertheless, it was still South Africans that got the blame.

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Several of the 10 provinces in Canada are currently reporting sharp increases in Omicron COVID cases.

“While we recognise the controversial nature of such a prohibition, we believe it was a necessary measure to slow the arrival of Omicron in Canada and buy us some time.”

Canada Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos during a press conference

The problem, it doesn’t seem like it actually bought them any time at all.

Bans galore, bans no more

Travellers from South Africa to Canada will now have to show proof of a negative COVID test. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has described the surge of cases in Canada as “scary”.

Aside from starting off the panic over a variant that wasn’t even ours and was already overseas, the UK has also infuriated South Africans by claiming that it was the one that discovered Omicron.

One ban which still remains and leaves South Africans with a bit of a smile? France’s decision to ban all non-essential travel from the UK.