All travellers to UK to show pre-departure virus tests

The UK authorities has introduced that these travelling into the nation might want to present a detrimental coronavirus check pre-departure because it reintroduces Covid-19 restrictions as a result of Omicron variant.

From 0400 GMT on Tuesday, anybody travelling to the UK must present proof of a detrimental lateral move or PCR check taken inside the final 48 hours earlier than boarding a flight, the well being ministry mentioned late Saturday.

It will apply to travellers aged over 12 from any nation. At present travellers must take a PCR check inside two days of arrival.

The reintroduction of obligatory pre-departure testing prompted an indignant response from the journey business.

The Enterprise Journey Affiliation mentioned that the measure could be a “hammer blow”, whereas the Airport Operators Affiliation mentioned that “pre-departure checks are a devastating blow, as they deter folks from travelling”.

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab informed Sky Information that he knew the brand new measure was a “burden for the journey business” however confused the UK wanted to behave.

“We have to take the measures focused forensically to cease the brand new variant seeding on this nation to create a much bigger downside.”

The federal government has vowed it “will take additional decisive motion if essential to include the virus and new variant”.

The UK earlier banned flights from South Africa and put 10 African international locations on its crimson listing, that means solely UK and Irish residents or UK residents can journey from there to the UK. Nigeria will be a part of the listing from Monday.

Consultants cautioned that journey restrictions and bans is not going to halt the virus unfold.

Statistician David Spiegelhalter, a College of Cambridge professor who co-authored a historical past of the pandemic, informed Sky Information that “journey restrictions in the mean time are solely going to gradual issues up a bit bit.. however they don’t seem to be going to cease it (Omicron) and it’ll are available in”.

England has made masks obligatory once more in outlets and on public transport in response to the brand new variant, with 160 Omicron instances confirmed for a lot within the UK.

The UK has additionally prolonged its booster programme to make all adults eligible.