Are travel bans worth it? They could slow the spread of omicron but they have repercussions, experts say
- Dozens of countries have announced new travel bans since omicron was named a “variant of concern.”
- Experts agreed that it could help buy time to build a response to the new variant, but travel bans wouldn’t stop the spread.
- There could be a big cost in future reporting of new strains, experts warned.
As the world scrambles to understand the severity of the new omicron variant, dozens of countries – including the United States – added travel restrictions to curb the spread of the variant.
But are they effective?
Experts who spoke to USA TODAY agreed that it could help buy time to build a response to the new variant, buttravel banswouldn’t stop the spread. Another concern experts shared was the possible effects on the future of being forthcoming with variants – a concern already voiced by leaders in the World Health Organization.