Opposition wants travel ban extended to other countries with new Covid-19 variants

The parliamentary opposition wants the government to extend the travel ban to other countries where the new strain of  Covid-19 has been detected to reduce the likelihood of it spreading to Jamaica.

On Monday, the country's borders were closed to flights from the UK where the new strain has been detected.

Dr Morais Guy, Opposition Spokesperson on Health, pointed out that the coronavirus variant has been detected in a number of  countries and accordingly he wants the government to implement measures to protect Jamaica from possible risks.

New variants of  Covid 19 have so far been detected in Denmark, Sweden, and South Africa.

Dr Guy told Radio Jamaica News that, while these countries do not have direct flights to Jamaica, unlike the UK, their citizens should be banned from entering the island for the time being.