Gottlieb calls travel bans counterproductive after new African restrictions

Former Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb took to Twitter on Friday to criticize the U.S. travel ban on eight southern African countries announced by the White House over concerns about the new omicron coronavirus variant.

Gottlieb said that “it’s counterproductive in [the] short and long run to impose harsh travel restrictions on affected countries; hurting current containment efforts, discouraging future sharing.”

Gottlieb further added that there’s “too much we don’t know to impose economically, socially ruinous policies”

“Ready, fire, aim is not prudent public health policy. Vaccine and testing requirements for incoming travelers could be prudent,” he said

“Outright travel bans can hurt more than help,” Gottlieb tweeted.

There’s too much we don’t know to impose economically, socially ruinous policies on SA and other nations. Ready, fire, aim is not prudent public health policy. Vaccine, testing requirements for incoming travelers could be prudent. Outright travel bans can hurt more than help.

— Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) November 26, 2021

The U.S. on Friday imposed strict travel restrictions on eight countries in southern Africa — South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi — starting Monday as a cautionary measure in light of the new COVID-19 variant.