Common Sense will Return...RSA The chairwoman of the South African Medical Association has described the travel restrictions imposed on the country as “hasty” and the reaction from other countries as “a storm in a teacup”.
Dr Angelique Coetzee said it was too early to tell what impact the B.1.1.529 variant would have.
She told BBC News: “We think it is a premature decision that has been taken, I think it is a hasty decision.
“I would understand if it was two weeks later and we know much more about this viral infection that is going around, or this mutation, but for now, it is like a storm in a teacup.
“We have only become aware of this viral mutation, or the new strain we are seeing, last week.”