Italy bans flights from Brazil in response to new coronavirus variant

Gulf Today Report

In response to a new coronavirus variant, Italy is suspending flights from Brazil, Health Minister Roberto Speranza said on Saturday.

Speranza has signed an order banning direct flights to Italy from Brazil after a new variant of the coronavirus was identified in four passengers arriving from that country.

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Anyone who has transited Brazil in the last 14 days is also prohibited from entering Italy, he said on Facebook, while people arriving in Italy from Brazil will be required to take a test for the virus.

People arriving in Italy from Brazil will be required to take a test for the virus.

The ban is effective immediately through January 31, according to the order posted on the website of the Ministry of Health on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.

"It is critical for our scientists to study the new strain. In the meantime, we are taking a very cautious approach", he said.

Such rules will remain in place until Jan. 31, the order issued on Saturday by the health minister showed.

"I signed an order blocking flights departing from Brazil, and forbidding entry into Italy to anyone who has travelled through Brazil over the past 14 days," Speranza wrote in a statement.

"It is mandatory for anyone already in Italy who came from Brazil to contact health authorities and to get tested (for the virus)," the minister said. "It is essential for our scientists to be able to conduct an in-depth study of the new variant. Meanwhile, we choose the path of maximum caution."

In related news, Speranza on Saturday also signed an order specifying which of Italy's 20 regions will fall into which colour-coded zone, beginning on Sunday.