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Ramaphosa Hopeful South Africa Will Be Removed From UK Red List

Ramaphosa Hopeful South Africa Will Be Removed From UK Red List

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he is hopeful the country will be removed from a list of nations whose residents are restricted from visiting the U.K. after he discussed the issue with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The inclusion of South Africa on the U.K.’s so-called red list was problematic because Britain is its biggest source of tourism and a major trading partner, Ramaphosa said in a televised address. While U.K. scientists were concerned about the present of the Covid-19 beta variant in South Africa, it had been displaced by the more infectious Delta strain, he said. 

Ramaphosa said he put South Africa’s case to Johnson during a phone conversation on Thursday.

“We both agreed that decisions of this nature should be informed by science and are hopeful of a positive outcome when the issue comes up for review in the coming days,” he said. 

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.