<p>Thailand said Saturday it will ban travellers from eight southern African countries where a new Covid-19 strain has emerged.</p>.<p>The World Health Organization has named the new "variant of concern" Omicron, and scientists are racing to understand it and whether vaccines need adjustments.</p>.<p>The variant has already reached Asia and Europe with one case in Hong Kong and a confirmed infection in Belgium.</p>.<p>Thailand's disease control department said people from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe would be barred entry from December.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/covid-variants-how-the-new-one-was-found-and-what-we-know-so-far-1055066.html">Covid variants: How the new one was found and what we know so far</a></strong></p>.<p>From Saturday they will be unable to register to enter the country.</p>.<p>"Those that have already been approved to enter the country from these eight countries will be ordered to undergo an additional 14-day mandatory quarantine, starting now," department director general Opas Karnkawinpong told reporters.</p>.<p>People from other African countries who have already secured approval to visit Thailand will be subject to 14 days in hotel quarantine.</p>.<p>Opas noted that no African countries are on a list of 63 nations eligible for quarantine-free travel to Thailand which started this month.</p>.<p>Thailand has recorded more than 2.1 million Covid infections, the lion's share since the Delta variant took off in April.</p>.<p>Only 57 percent of the population of 70 million people are fully vaccinated.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>
<p>Thailand said Saturday it will ban travellers from eight southern African countries where a new Covid-19 strain has emerged.</p>.<p>The World Health Organization has named the new "variant of concern" Omicron, and scientists are racing to understand it and whether vaccines need adjustments.</p>.<p>The variant has already reached Asia and Europe with one case in Hong Kong and a confirmed infection in Belgium.</p>.<p>Thailand's disease control department said people from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe would be barred entry from December.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/covid-variants-how-the-new-one-was-found-and-what-we-know-so-far-1055066.html">Covid variants: How the new one was found and what we know so far</a></strong></p>.<p>From Saturday they will be unable to register to enter the country.</p>.<p>"Those that have already been approved to enter the country from these eight countries will be ordered to undergo an additional 14-day mandatory quarantine, starting now," department director general Opas Karnkawinpong told reporters.</p>.<p>People from other African countries who have already secured approval to visit Thailand will be subject to 14 days in hotel quarantine.</p>.<p>Opas noted that no African countries are on a list of 63 nations eligible for quarantine-free travel to Thailand which started this month.</p>.<p>Thailand has recorded more than 2.1 million Covid infections, the lion's share since the Delta variant took off in April.</p>.<p>Only 57 percent of the population of 70 million people are fully vaccinated.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>