The move comes amid growing concern about the newly detected strain of coronavirus, which is believed to be more contagious than previous variants such as delta.
From 4am on Tuesday, any traveller aged 12 or over, regardless of their vaccination status, will have to show proof of a negative PCR or lateral flow test taken up to 48 hours before departure time to the UK. From tomorrow, Nigeria will be added to the red list of high-risk countries from which travellers must undergo hotel quarantine for 10 days after entering Britain.
Health secretary Sajid Javid said the government's strategy since the discovery of omicron had been to “buy time” to assess and to “put in place protective measures”, adding: “We've always said that we would act swiftly should new data require it.” He said that further action to slow the incursion of the variant was being taken "in light of the most recent data”.
It is understood that the move to pre-departure testing was prompted in part by evidence that the time delay between infection with the omicron variant and becoming infectious to other people is shorter than with other strains.
この記事は The Independent の December 05, 2021 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Independent の December 05, 2021 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Vaccine could protect us against future pandemics
A new vaccine could be effective against coronaviruses that have yet to emerge, with hopes it could be used to battle future pandemics, research suggests.
Ministry of Defence hacked by China in massive attack
A massive Chinese cyberattack targeted the UK’s Ministry of Defence in a breach revealing the details of armed forces personnel, according to reports.
Starmer warned: Don’t take our union votes for granted
Trade union leaders have warned Sir Keir Starmer that Labour cannot take their members’ votes for granted in the upcoming general election if promises of a new package on rights have been betrayed.
Swinney is new SNP leader and first minister in waiting
John Swinney promised a “new chapter” as he took over as SNP leader yesterday after potential leadership contest rivals pulled out of the race.
Sunak insists local elections point to a hung parliament
Rishi Sunak has defended his claim that there will be a hung parliament after the general election, despite Tory MPs and polling experts describing it as “wishful thinking”.
Fears of bloodbath’ as Israel ignores ceasefire offer and prepares for Rafah i invasion
Israel has defied international concern and ordered the partial evacuation of Rafah – the last refuge in Gaza, where 1.4 million desperate civilians are braced for an impending ground assault the United Nations warned could lead to “bloodbath”.
Russia In Race To Make Gains Before Fresh US Arms Arrive
Analysts and officials say the Kremlin wants a military victory to tout before its artillery advantage over Ukraine diminishes
Tory Voters Won't Thank Us If We Replace The Prime Minister
The results of the local and police and crime commissioner elections in England were supposed to follow a clear narrative – that Labour was on course for a massive parliamentary majority in a general election, and that Rishi Sunak’s premiership would be on the rocks, with rebel factions waiting to displace him.
Tories 'Smart' To Use Holiday To Mask Border Check Chaos
The director general of Britain’s leading trade body has described Tory ministers as “smart” for using the bank holiday weekend to mask the impact of a new Brexit border checks system, which is set to add delays, red tape and costs to many imports.
Netanyahu Rejects Hamas Peace Talks To End Gaza War
Rafah invasion talked up as Israeli PM shuts down Al Jazeera