UK to remove all 11 countries from travel red list
Although temporary testing measures remain says Health Secretary
The Government has announced that all 11 countries will be removed from the UK's travel red list from 4am on Wednesday (15th December).
Hotel quarantine for travellers arriving in England will also be abandoned.
Earlier today (14th December), Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs: "Whilst we'll maintain our temporary testing measures for international travel, we will be removing all 11 countries from the travel red list effective from 4am tomorrow."
The countries on the travel red list are:
- Angola
- Botswana
- Eswatini
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nigeria
- South Africa
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Mr Javid has previously said the spread of Omicron in the UK and the world means the travel red list is "now less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad".
The red list was reintroduced in late November as a precaution after the Omicron variant reached the UK.
So far travellers arriving in the UK from the red list countries have been required to spend 11 nights in a quarantine hotel at a cost of £2,285 for solo travellers.
They must also take Covid tests within 48 hours setting off and PCR tests within two days of their arrival.
Airlines UK chief Tim Alderslade claimed the decision "makes complete sense but doesn't go nearly far enough".
He said: "If the red list isn't necessary given that Omicron is established here at home, then neither are the costly emergency testing and isolation measures imposed on even fully vaccinated travellers, which again put us completely at odds with the rest of Europe.
"It is testing that is the deterrent to travel, not the relatively limited red list."
Mr Alderslade warned that the key Christmas and New Year booking period will be "undermined" unless testing rules are eased.
Here is what is happening under the Government's 'Plan B':
Face coverings
Face coverings have already become an added feature of our lives since they were reinstated at the beginning of December, but from Friday 10th December face masks will also be needed indoors in places like cinemas and theatres.
Boris Johnson said rules around the wearing of face coverings would be "further extended" to "most public indoor venues" including theatres and cinemas.
The Prime Minister told a press briefing in Downing Street: "There will of course be exemptions where it is not practical, such as when eating, drinking, exercising or singing."
Working from home
Under the rules of "Plan B", the government has reimposed the need to work from home where possible in order to stem the spread of the virus. This guidance comes into place from Monday 13th December.
Nightclubs
Under the government's "Plan B" , COVID passports will become necessary to get into all nightclubs. This is due to the close proximity people would be to each other in the venue and help to reduce the spread of the virus.
Indoor spaces
Indoor settings that have more than 500 people unseated will require a COVID Pass to enter. Examples of settings that would need attendees to have a COVID Pass would include music venues and large receptions.
Outdoor events
Outdoor events are not exempt from using COVID Passes either. Unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people will need people to have a vaccine pass. This includes outdoor music festivals, such as Glastonbury Festival.
Stadiums
COVID Passes will be needed to get into any event that is expecting more than 10,000 people to attend. This would include major sports events such as football matches, as well as music concerts in arenas.
The Prime Minister said: "The NHS Covid pass can still be obtained with two doses but we will keep this under review as the boosters roll out.
"And having taken clinical advice since the emergence of Omicron, a negative lateral flow test will also be sufficient."