Israel, through Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett announced on Thursday that it has added South Africa to the list of “red” countries, after the discovery of a new B.1.1.529 COVID-19 variant there, essentially barring Israelis from traveling to and from these countries.

Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, and Eswatini were also added to the “red” list. Anyone coming from any of these countries and is not an Israeli citizen or resident will be barred entry.

The variant – called B.1.1.529 – has a “very unusual constellation” of mutations, which are concerning because they could help it evade the body’s immune response and make it more transmissible, scientists told reporters at a news conference in South Africa.

South Africa has confirmed around 100 specimens as B.1.1.529, the variant has also been found in Hong Kong in a traveler from South Africa.

This might stop the reigning ‘Miss SA’ from participating in the “Miss Universe contest” coming up in Israel.