The United Kingdom has decided to remove all the remaining countries that are in the red list starting today. The UK took this decision after a review of the latest risk assessment from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Certain countries were in the red list ever since the new variant of the coronavirus started to make its mark in countries across Europe.
The countries that will be removed from the red list are Eswatini, Angola, Malawi, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. This means that passengers coming in from these countries will not have to undergo hotel quarantine upon their arrival in the UK.
The United Kingdom has also decided to continue with the pre-departure test, two days before they arrive. This means that PCR test is a must for all vaccinated passengers. They also need to self-isolate until and unless they receive a negative result from their COVID test. The same pre-departure test rule also applies for unvaccinated passengers, and a PCR test on the second and eighth day, while self-isolating for a total of ten days.
The UK is of the view that it is important to continue with the testing in order to protect the citizens, and curb any additional cases of the new Omicron virus. According to Sajid Javid, Health and Social Care Secretary, “Omicron has spread so widely across the world, the travel Red List is now less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad. Whilst we’ll maintain our temporary testing measures for international travel, we will be removing all eleven countries from the travel Red List effective 4am, December 15.”
The UK is focusing on booster vaccines for all adults in the country. Experts suggest that this is one of the best ways to keep the new variant of COVID 19 at bay.
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