10 things you need to know today: November 26, 2021

Countries tighten travel restrictions thanks to new COVID variant, retailers gear up for Black Friday, and more

Black Friday shopper.
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1. Countries tighten travel restrictions after COVID variant found in South Africa

Dozens of countries including the U.K., Singapore, and Japan have begun restricting travel to and from South Africa, as news of a fast-spreading, possibly more contagious COVID-19 variant emerges. The European Union, for example, has proposed stopping flights arriving from the southern African region across the whole 27-nation bloc. Top South African health officials announced the discovery of the variant on Thursday, and are still trying to determine its origins; other cases have been discovered in Botswana and Hong Kong. Known as B.1.1.52, the new strain is said to be "the most heavily mutated version yet," and one that could possibly render the current roster of vaccines less effective. Experts from the World Health Organization are scheduled to meet later Friday to discuss the new variant and whether or not to classify it as one of concern.

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Brigid Kennedy

Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.