The European Union will propose banning travel from southern Africa following the discovery of a new COVID-19 variant that scientists fear could torpedo efforts to beat the pandemic, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday.

In close coordination with member states, the EU's executive "will propose to activate the emergency brake to stop air travel from the southern African region due to the variant of concern B.1.1.529," Von der Leyen tweeted.

Many European countries have been grappling with the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in recent months. 

Germany will ban most travel from South Africa to halt the spread of a new COVID-19 variant with many mutations, acting Health Minister Jens Spahn said Friday.

Italy on Friday also imposed an entry ban on people who have visited a group of southern African states, including South Africa, in the last 14 days, due to the spread of a new COVID-19 variant there.