WATCH: Trudeau Health Minister says foreigners coming from countries affected by ‘Omicron’ variant won’t be allowed into Canada

This travel ban is similar to others recently enacted by countries around the world. However, in this case, Duclos also asks any Canadians arriving from abroad within the past 14 days to self-quarantine and to have a COVID test performed on them.

Duclos said in his statement:

"So, first, we are banning the entry of foreign nationals into Canada that have travelled through southern Africa in the last 14 days."

"Southern Africa includes seven countries: South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini."

"Second, for all those have arrived in Canada in the last 14 days, we are asking them to quarantine now, and to go for a COVID 19 test."

As of the time of this writing, it is not known in what ways the new "omicron" variant might differ from other COVID 19 variants, if much at all. However, experts are worried that this strain, due to its many observed mutations, may wind up being more contagious and/or more resistant to the vaccines being used against it.