Armenia is planning to restrict travel from a group of African countries, where omicron – the new coronavirus variant – is most wide-spread, Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan told a press conference on Monday, November 29, Sputnik Armenia reports.

Avanesyan said people traveling from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar and Tanzania will be banned from entering Armenia.

According to her, the number of coronavirus cases is dropping in Armenia, there will also be be a decrease in deaths "in the near future".

Avanesyan revealed that Armenians will be able to receive their booster doses six months after their second vaccination. Those who received a non-mRNA vaccine must receive a similar booster, which she said will be "much more efficient."

The World Health Organization said earlier that preliminary evidence suggests there may be an increased risk of reinfection with Omicron (which means people who have previously had Covid-19 could become reinfected more easily with Omicron), as compared to other variants of concern.