
Former Meals and Medication Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb took to Twitter on Friday to criticize the U.S. journey ban on eight southern African international locations introduced by the White Home over issues concerning the new omicron coronavirus variant.
Gottlieb mentioned that “it is counterproductive in [the] quick and long term to impose harsh journey restrictions on affected international locations; hurting present containment efforts, discouraging future sharing.”
Gottlieb additional added that there is “an excessive amount of we do not know to impose economically, socially ruinous insurance policies”
“Prepared, hearth, goal isn’t prudent public well being coverage. Vaccine and testing necessities for incoming vacationers may very well be prudent,” he mentioned
“Outright journey bans can damage greater than assist,” Gottlieb tweeted.
There’s an excessive amount of we do not know to impose economically, socially ruinous insurance policies on SA and different nations. Prepared, hearth, goal isn’t prudent public well being coverage. Vaccine, testing necessities for incoming vacationers may very well be prudent. Outright journey bans can damage greater than assist.
— Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) November 26, 2021
The U.S. on Friday imposed strict journey restrictions on eight international locations in southern Africa — South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi — beginning Monday as a cautionary measure in gentle of the brand new COVID-19 variant.
The World Well being Group on Friday held an emergency assembly at which it recognized omicron as a variant of concern, which identifies one as particularly virulent, transmissible or capable of defeat public well being measures.
A number of European international locations together with France and the U.Okay. have began to limit flights from southern Africa as a result of issues over the newest COVID-19 variant. The brand new pressure has already additionally been detected in Botswana, Hong Kong, Israel and Belgium, in addition to South Africa.
South African Well being Minister Joe Phaahla mentioned in response to a proposed European Union journey ban on Friday that the brand new restrictions are “unjustified.”