Restrictions tightened globally as coronavirus variant Omicron sparks concerns

Travelers wait to receive COVID-19 tests at Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town, South Africa, Nov. 29, 2021. A growing number of countries and regions are suspending flights from southern African countries due to a new variant of the coronavirus, which has sparked serious concern among scientists and researchers, and triggered air travel restrictions and a massive slump of stocks in Asia, Europe and the United States. (Str/Xinhua)

Travelers check their COVID-19 test results at Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town, South Africa, Nov. 29, 2021. A growing number of countries and regions are suspending flights from southern African countries due to a new variant of the coronavirus, which has sparked serious concern among scientists and researchers, and triggered air travel restrictions and a massive slump of stocks in Asia, Europe and the United States. (Str/Xinhua)

Travelers check in at Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town, South Africa, Nov. 29, 2021. A growing number of countries and regions are suspending flights from southern African countries due to a new variant of the coronavirus, which has sparked serious concern among scientists and researchers, and triggered air travel restrictions and a massive slump of stocks in Asia, Europe and the United States. (Str/Xinhua)

Travelers register for entering the COVID-19 test site at Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town, South Africa, Nov. 29, 2021. A growing number of countries and regions are suspending flights from southern African countries due to a new variant of the coronavirus, which has sparked serious concern among scientists and researchers, and triggered air travel restrictions and a massive slump of stocks in Asia, Europe and the United States. (Str/Xinhua)