Philadelphia (CNN) — The discovery of a new variant of the COVID-19 virus has left governments around the world in a hurry. Since the World Health Organization designated B.1.1.529 as a "variant", there has been increasing concern about travel restrictions", November 26 day.

Little is known about this new variant called Omicron, including how it will affect those who are infected, or the level of efficacy of the vaccine against it.

But officials in many countries did not take risks. After the discovery of the Omicron variant, major tourist destinations have begun to block flights from multiple countries in Southern Africa, while other destinations have restricted travel from affected areas to citizens.

For those who hope the worst of the pandemic has appeared in their rearview mirrors and they can finally plan for some vacation abroad, this news is a heavy blow and has caused multiple problems.

Here are some of the biggest questions that travelers might think of right now.

How do countries respond to new variants? It is forgivable for prospective travelers to feel a bit deja vu now. The introduction of new entry restrictions and the cancellation of flights bear a striking resemblance to the global travel freeze that destroyed the international tourism community when Covid-19 began to spread in early 2020.

Omicron's cases have been detected on multiple continents. As of Monday morning, countries such as Germany, Canada, Italy, Israel, and Hong Kong have reported cases. But most of the new restrictions are concentrated in southern African countries.

For example, due to concerns about the new Omicron variant, New Zealand now bans travel from nine southern African countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Seychelles, Malawi and Mozambique.

Only New Zealand citizens can travel from these countries.

Some countries are canceling flights from several southern African countries altogether, while others are imposing new quarantine restrictions on passengers arriving through certain destinations.

Japan has adopted stricter measures and will close any non-citizens, including international students or family visitors, from November 30.

We have broken down here in detail what some of the main destinations are doing.

I am not traveling in Africa. Is my plan risky? The current situation is very unstable. As mentioned above, there have been cases in other countries/regions from Canada to Australia, which means that further restrictions may be imminent.

With few exceptions, the governments of most countries allow citizens and permanent residents of southern African countries to return to their homes.

As we have seen in 2020, the situation may change very quickly, so travelers are advised to keep abreast of the latest news.

It is also wise to take additional steps to register in the government's online alert program. For US citizens and nationals, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service that allows those who travel and live abroad to register their travel with the nearest US embassy or consulate.

STEP will send important information about the security situation of a particular destination from the embassy and allow embassy officials to contact you in case of an emergency.

How long will these restrictions last? It is too early to say.

U.S. government officials told CNN that the U.S. will restrict travel from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi from Monday.

President Joe Biden told the media that he "decided that we will be cautious about this variant." "Except that it is a big problem and seems to spread quickly, we don't know much about this variant," he said.

This seems to be the case in other countries, with the goal of slowing the spread of infection, as they are trying to figure out how serious this new, reportedly more contagious variant is, and whether the vaccine can provide a lot of protection.

European Commission President Ursula von der Lein said on Sunday that the world is "a race against time" with the Omicron coronavirus variant.

In terms of travel safety, how should I consider Omicron? Dr. William Schaffner, Professor of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said that there are still many scientists who know nothing about this new variant of the coronavirus, but now anyone can do the best The thing is to get vaccinated.

He said that vaccination is very important for two reasons.

The first is the Delta variant. Schaffner said: "This is the virus that is now circulating in every community." "But the second point, this is related to Omicron. Our vaccine is likely to provide at least partial protection. Partial protection is better than no protection."

Another basic safety measure is to still wear masks in public.

Schaffner’s advice on travel is roughly the same as before the discovery of the new variant.

Make sure you are vaccinated, wear a mask, maintain social distancing as much as possible when you travel, and carefully consider what to do when you get there. This may put you at greater risk than the travel itself.

"If everyone hugs, kisses and takes off the mask, that's fine. But you have to have a rule, you have to discuss this with your relatives or friends," Schaffner said. "This means everyone must be vaccinated, and you can do what our family did before Thanksgiving: we were all tested. So not only did we get the vaccine and the boost, but our test result was negative. Now, if you start to control yourself like this, you can travel, party, and socialize with very low risk."

Is there any health reasons to cancel the plan at this time, such as a trip to New York? "It's not because of me, but please remember that I am a very careful traveler," Schaffner said.

“I was vaccinated and strengthened. I don’t want to go to the conference in New York unless I talk to everyone on the front end and say, “Unless everyone at the conference is vaccinated, I won’t be in New York. "So you have the right to make some rules for yourself and the people you will be in contact with."

A trip that involves a lot of shopping and going to the theater, dining in a crowded restaurant, and going to your favorite New York City bar is another matter.

"If you want to do all of this, yes, you took more risks, but it really has nothing to do with Omicron. Now it has to do with Delta Air Lines," Schaffner said.

I have booked an international holiday travel plan. Should I cancel? For those who book international travel for the upcoming winter vacation, this timing is indeed unfortunate.

At present, it is too early to determine whether the new version will lead to further international travel restrictions.

Experts say that those who weigh the risks and decide to book are best to ensure that they have a comprehensive Covid-19 insurance plan to compensate for all possibilities and that their airline/hotel has a flexible cancellation policy.

"The most important thing is to really focus on flexible booking policies," said Rory Boland, travel editor of British consumer magazine Which. Tell CNN.

"Many resort companies and airlines have them, but there is a huge difference in what they do and what they don't.

"Even if restrictions are imposed in the country/region you are going to, some people can cover almost anything that may happen. They will rebook for you for free. Other coverage is minimal, and flexible bookings are prominently promoted.

"So please book with a resort company or airline with a truly flexible policy and purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers almost any change. What travelers want is inner peace-this is how you get it."

Are these travel bans and restrictions really effective? As mentioned earlier, the government is trying to buy time because they figure out the potential impact of Omicron.

But some officials criticized these restrictions as unfair and ineffective. The WHO Regional Office for Africa said on Sunday that it stands with African countries and called on borders to remain open as more and more countries in the world implement flight bans.

The office stated that countries should adopt risk-based scientific methods and take measures to limit their possible spread.

"Implementing a travel ban against Africa undermines global solidarity," said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

"Covid-19 continues to use our department. Only when we work together to find a solution can we beat the virus." Travel restrictions may slightly reduce the spread of Covid-19, but "put a heavy burden on life and livelihoods."

At the same time, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned against imposing travel bans and emphasized that such restrictions are “not a long-term solution” when it comes to managing variants of the coronavirus.

"The government is responding to the risks of the new coronavirus variants in an emergency mode, causing fear during travel. We must use the experience of the past two years to move to a coordinated data-driven approach as soon as possible to find safe alternatives to border closure and isolation," IATA Director-General Willie Walsh said in a statement.

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