New COVID-19 variant discovered in South Africa and Botswana

Health authorities in South Africa and Botswana on Thursday reported a new COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.529, had been detected in the two Southern African countries.

South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases said 22 positive cases of variant B.1.1.529 had been recorded in the country following genomic sequencing collaborations between the NICD and private laboratories.

"It is not surprising a new variant has been detected in South Africa," Adrian Puren, NICD acting executive director, said in a statement. "Although the data are limited, our experts are working overtime with all established surveillance systems to understand the new variant and what the implications could be. Developments are occurring at a rapid pace and the public has our assurance we will keep them up to date."

Puren said detected cases and positive tests were both increasing quickly, particularly in Gauteng, North West and Limpopo.

By Thursday, NICD figures indicated South Africa had 2,465 new COVID-19 cases, which brought the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases to 2,952,500. A total of 89,771 people have died from the pandemic.

In Botswana, Kereng Masupu, the coordinator of the presidential COVID-19 response, said four cases of B.1.1.529 were recorded on Nov 22 among travelers who tested positive on routine pre-travel testing. All four were reportedly fully vaccinated.

"The initial investigations on the virus have established the new variant has a high number of mutations as compared to the locally predominant Delta variant.

"What this means is still unclear and under investigation. New variants have the potential to affect severity of disease, how effective tests pick up the disease as well as potentially vaccine efficacy. At this moment, the real world impact of the variant has not been established," Masupu said in a statement.

Following the news, the United Kingdom immediately suspended travel from South Africa, and neighboring countries, while the European Union is looking to do the same.

From Sunday, UK travelers from the region will be expected to quarantine for 10 days in hotels upon arrival.