According to the South African Health Minister, Joe Phaahla, preliminary investigations indicate that the new variant is more contagious than others, but he still thinks it is unfounded that European countries have imposed travel restrictions, partly because the World Health Organization, WHO, has not yet recommended these travel restrictions.
Sambært suðurafrikanska heilsumálaráðharranum, Joe Phaahla, geva fyribils kanningar eina ábending um, at nýggja frábrigdið smittar verri enn onnur, men hann heldur tað tó vera ógrundað, at evropeisk lond hava sett ferðaavmarkingar í verk, m.a. tí at Heimsheilsustovnurin, WHO enn ikki hevur mælt til hesar ferðaavmarkingarnar.