UK Set To Scrap Red List, To Be Replaced With Testing For The Fully Vaccinated
The United Kingdom (UK) is set to remove the travel red list as soon as this week, the Daily Mail reported.
The UK imposed the draconian measures following the emergence of Omicron, a more transmissible variant of the novel coronavirus that was first detected in South Africa and Botswana.
Travellers to the UK from several African countries on the red list were forced into hotel quarantine at a cost of £2 285 per person for ten days.
The move angered the listed countries, with Nigeria reportedly mulling plans to ban flights from Argentina, Britain, Canada and Saudi Arabia from this week in retaliation.
Africa’s most populous nation was added to those countries’ red lists over the detection of the Omicron coronavirus variant last month.
Meanwhile, UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is said to have convinced Cabinet it should be replaced with testing for the fully vaccinated.
At Wednesday’s COVID-19 briefing, Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to re-examine the policy amid claims it was unfair and ineffective.
While several countries have banned travellers from some African nations, the Omicron variant has since spread to at least 57 countries.
