Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

UK to scrap travel red list from Wednesday

Remaining 11 countries removed from high-risk list from 4am on 15 December

Helen Coffey,Lucy Thackray
Wednesday 15 December 2021 02:11 GMT
Comments
UK to scrap travel red list, says Sajid Javid

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The UK government has confirmed it is scrapping the red list for international travel.

Announced by health secretary Sajid Javid in the House of Commons today, 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 African countries currently designated “high risk” by the Department for Transport will be removed from the red list from 4am on 15 December.

“Now that there is community transmission, the travel red less is less effective,” said Mr Javid.

The recently announced testing requirements, however, will stay in place.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: “All current testing measures remain in place and will be reviewed in the first week of January.

“As always, we keep all our travel measures under review and we may impose new restrictions should there be a need to do so to protect public health.”

Testing requirements vary depending on whether arrivals to the UK are fully vaccinated or not: the former group must present a negative lateral flow test before departure and book a PCR test to be taken within two days of entering the country, while the latter must also have booked a day eight PCR test and quarantine for 10 days.

A total of 11 African nations were put on the UK’s formerly empty red list between 29 November and 4 December, including South Africa and Nigeria, with returning travellers given short notice that they would have to pay thousands for hotel quarantine in the UK.

South Africa and nine other countries, including safari favourites Botswana and Namibia, spent just 16 days on the red list this time around.

It is currently unclear whether current quarantine hotel detainees will be allowed to leave self-isolation early, and, if so, whether they will be able to claim a refund for the portion of their stay left remaining.

Africa guide Paul Goldstein says: “I sincerely hope the government is not expecting any thanks for this.

“Singlehandedly they have destroyed the Christmas/New Year market for much of Africa as well as butchering confidence in the UK travel industry.”

Many of those who travelled to red list countries during the couple of weeks they were back on the list are now midway through their 10-day hotel isolation period.

Louise Hemus Fox, currently in hotel quarantine at the Gatwick Sofitel, told The Independent: “As a minimum we should be allowed out on receipt of a negative day eight test. Not have to sit here until midnight on day 10.

“The whole thing is utterly pointless. This is absolutely nothing to do with infection control, it’s just a bureaucratic platitude.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in