Maldives said it was barring travelers from seven African countries from Sunday over concerns about the new Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Travelers will not be allowed into the Maldives from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini, the health ministry said in a statement.

Travelers who arrived from these countries over the past two days will undergo 14 days of quarantine.