The UK is tightening entry rules to limit the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus. Travelers heading to the islands will now need to be tested for COVID-19 and test negative to enter. The rules will take effect on Tuesday at 04:00.
This requirement will apply to all travelers visiting the UK and its returning residents, whether vaccinated or not, and will take effect next Tuesday at 4 a.m. Tests must be completed 48 hours before departure.
Extended red list
In addition, Nigeria will return to the Red Traveler List on Monday morning, which means that only UK and Irish citizens and UK residents will be able to enter the country, but will have to go through a 10-day paid quarantine at one of the listed hotels upon arrival.
Due to the discovery of the Omicron variant in southern Africa, six countries from the region were initially red-listed (South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini), and four more joined last Sunday (Angola, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia).
“Very unfortunate”
Health Minister Sajid Javid admitted that the announced changes were “extremely unfortunate” for people who already have travel plans, but explained that this was due to “a growing number of travel-related infections.” He stressed that the new requirements will be temporary.
“We want to end them as soon as possible,” the minister said, adding that “vaccines remain our first line of defense.”
The head of the Ministry of Health also said that to date, about 160 cases of infection with the Omicron variant have been identified in the UK, of which about 130 are in England and 30 in Scotland. This means that compared to Friday, their number has increased by 26.