EFF urges India travel ban amid Covid crisis
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have called for a travel ban to be issued against India due to the Covid-19 variant first identified in that country.
A more transmissive and deadlier B.1.617 strain has been discovered in India, which has been attributed to record high deaths and transmissions in the country.
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EFF spokesperson Vuyani Pambo says the failure to issue a travel ban is a blatant failure by the government to follow global trends.
"This is a blatant failure by this government to follow global trends of the virus and act accordingly to protect life, and is consistent with the generally reactive approach by those leading this country, where they want an exhibition of disaster and death before making necessary decisions.
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"Their lack of a response and necessary policy intervention to ensure the variant that exists in India does not spread in South Africa is no different from their childish response in March 2020, when they refused to utilise state resources to quarantine the 11 passengers from Italy and opted to allow them to self-quarantine."
On Tuesday, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize confirmed that three travellers who arrived at King Shaka Airport tested positive for Covid-19.
The travellers came from India on two separate Qatar Airlines flights.
