SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Australia said Friday that it is investigating the COVID-19 strain spreading in South Africa. It warned it could close its borders for travellers to the country if the risks increase.

Scientists in South Africa are worried that the “very uncommon constellation” of mutations could make the variant more resistant to the immune system.

Greg Hunt, Australia Health Minister said he would respond swiftly if classified as major new variant by the World Health Organization (WHO).

We are as flexible and adaptable today as we were yesterday. Hunt stated that doctors may advise us to modify that. He told reporters in Sydney. “That’s what we did as a nation, regardless of whether it was closing borders or ensuring quarantine.

Alarmed by the variant, Britain suspended flights to South Africa from Friday. It also asked British tourists returning from South Africa and Zimbabwe to be quarantined.

UK officials warned that the new strain of coronavirus could cause vaccines to fail because it contains a different spike protein than the coronavirus vaccines were based upon.

WHO stated that it could take several weeks to assess the effect of the new variant.

Australia eased international border restrictions early in the month during the pandemic, allowing residents who have been fully vaccinated to leave the country and return home without being quarantined.

Australia had managed to eradicate most infections during the year, until an extremely infectious Delta variant spread quickly across its eastern part in June. There have been approximately 205,000 deaths and 1985 cases so far. This is lower than in many countries of the advanced world.