Foreign Affairs will charter a flight to Mozambique to repatriate Spaniards due to the new variant of coronavirus

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has estimated at “something more than 200” the Spaniards who are in the countries of southern Africa most affected by the omicron variant of coronavirus and has indicated that they will be relocated on the flights of companies that are still providing service to Europe. In addition, the Ministry will charter a flight from Mozambique to repatriate nationals who are in that country.

In statements to TVE, collected by Europa Press, Albares has indicated that most are in South Africa, “about 150” and the rest in various countries in the region.

The minister has indicated that they are being placed on commercial flights to Europe that are still operating from South Africa. Specifically, he explained that there are two airlines that have never suspended their flights and two more that are going to resume them. “Commercial flights also continue to operate from other countries in the area “, has added.

On the other hand, he has advanced that Foreign Affairs has hired a plane that he is going to send to Mozambique to repatriate the Spaniards who are there, since this country does not have flights to Europe. “We will do it throughout the week, Wednesday or Thursday, probably,” he pointed out.

Albares has sent a message of tranquility to the Spanish and has assured that they are guaranteed to return to Spain on commercial flights and he has insisted that “neither time nor effort” will be spared and that if necessary the necessary planes will be chartered.

The discovery of this new variant of the coronavirus, identified as B.1.1.529 and baptized with the Greek letter omicron by the WHO, It was announced on Thursday by scientists and health authorities in South Africa, based on samples taken in mid-November.

At the time of the announcement they had identified already infections in Botswana and Hong Kong (China), but later detections were added in Israel, in Belgium (a case of a traveler from Egypt with no apparent ties to southern Africa), Australia, the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

The new variant – of which, however, there are still very few confirmed cases in total– is characterized by presenting an unusual number of mutations (slightly more than thirty) whose impact has yet to be studied.

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Despite the limited information available (due to early detection), from the day of the announcement, numerous countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, and the nations of the European Union, they quickly announced drastic travel restrictions for southern African countries.

Spain, although it does not have direct flights to the area, it also joined the European line and tightened controls entry for travelers from that region, who must present a negative test even when vaccinated.