Covid: Closing borders against Omicron scapegoats poorer countries, and history shows it isn’t effective

As the world’s scientists work to understand the effects of the Omicron Covid variant, several countries have already taken extreme measures, focusing on travel restrictions and border controls. Poland has banned flights to seven African nations, Britain has imposed new quarantine and testing requirements for arrivals and also banned flights, Australia abruptly reversed plans to re-open its international borders to some foreign nationals, and Japan and Israel have closed the door on all foreigners seeking entry.

In taking these measures, nations are following a well-worn route. Infectious diseases have always been blamed on foreigners, and throughout the protracted history of pandemics, the restriction of international travel has long been the first port of call for disease containment.