The U.S. will implement new travel restrictions in response to the new variant of the coronavirus, senior officials with the Biden administration said.

The policy will begin Monday, and it affects travel from:

  • Botswana
  • Eswatini
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • South Africa
  • Zimbabwe

U.S. citizens and permanent residents will not be affected by the restrictions, the officials said.

The World Health Organization also announced Friday that it is calling the new variant omicron, labeling it a "variant of concern."

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