In several countries, cases of the new omicron coronavirus mutation are now being detected and many have introduced travel restrictions.

Israel is the first country in the world to completely close its borders to foreign nationals.

The country has so far had a confirmed case of the variant and seven suspected cases.

- Our working hypothesis is that the new variant is found in almost all countries and that the vaccine has an effect, but we do not yet know to what extent, says the country's Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked to the Israeli TV channel N12 according to the Guardian.

The closure must be approved by the government and will then be valid for 14 days.

It takes effect at midnight on Sunday.

Citizens are forced to quarantine

Within that time period, the country hopes that there will be sufficient information on how effective vaccines against covid-19 are against the new variant.

Israel will also reintroduce mobile tracking to track carriers, see who they have been in contact with and thus limit the opportunities for the new variant to gain a foothold.

Israeli citizens traveling to the country will need to be quarantined, regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not.

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Hear SVT's Africa correspondent Johan Ripås about the new corona variant in South Africa.

Photo: NIC BOTHMA / EPA / TT, SVT