The UK government has scrapped the red list for international travel. Announced by health secretary Sajid Javid in the House of Commons yesterday, the move comes in response to the rapid global spread of the omicron coronavirus variant, which ministers admit has rendered the strictest travel restrictions unnecessary.
The 11 countries – Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe – currently designated “high risk” by the Department for Transport were removed from the red list at 4am today.
“Now that there is community transmission, the travel red less is less effective,” said Mr Javid.
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