The World Health Organisation has warned blanket travel bans will not prevent the spread of Omicron, as more countries rushed to impose curbs and the first cases of the new Covid strain were detected in Latin America.

The World Health Organisation warned that “blanket” travel bans risked doing more harm than good.

In a travel advisory, the WHO warned the bans could ultimately dissuade countries from sharing data about the evolving virus, according to an AFP report.

But it did advise that unvaccinated people vulnerable to Covid-19, including over-60s, should avoid travel to areas with community transmission of the virus.

A notice about Covid-19 safety measures is pictured next to closed doors at a departure hall of Narita international airport on the first day of closed borders to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus Omicron variant in Narita, east of Tokyo, Japan. — Reuters
A notice about Covid-19 safety measures is pictured next to closed doors at a departure hall of Narita international airport on the first day of closed borders to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus Omicron variant in Narita, east of Tokyo, Japan. — Reuters

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