Nigeria has been added to the UK journey pink record as efforts to include the unfold of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 collect tempo.
The change means UK and Irish residents and residents arriving from Nigeria should isolate in a government-approved managed quarantine facility for ten days on arrival.
They need to additionally obtain two adverse PCR checks, as additional precautionary motion is taken in opposition to the brand new variant.
Presently, the overwhelming majority of circumstances within the UK have clear hyperlinks to abroad journey from South Africa and Nigeria, and over the previous week, 21 Omicron circumstances reported in England originate from Nigeria.
A brief journey ban has additionally due to this fact been launched for all non-UK and non-Irish residents and residents who’ve been in Nigeria within the final ten days, that means they are going to be refused entry into the UK.
This doesn’t apply to those that have stayed airside and solely transited by Nigeria whereas altering flights.
Final weekend, ten countries had been added to the pink record, and it was announced that every one vaccinated passengers arriving within the UK should take a day two PCR checks and self-isolate till they obtain a adverse outcome.
Since then, the geographical unfold of Omicron has elevated significantly, with 37 nations world wide now reporting Omicron circumstances and over 134 circumstances recognized within the UK.
Prime minister, Boris Johnson, has additionally confirmed pre-departure testing will even now be reintroduced.
New evaluation performed by the UK Well being & Safety Company (UKHSA) signifies that the window between an infection and infectiousness could also be “shorter for the Omicron variant,” which will increase the efficacy of pre-departure testing as it’s extra prone to establish optimistic circumstances earlier than journey.
Evaluation suggests there may be sturdy indication of Omicron presence in Nigeria, and a number of other circumstances recognized within the UK are linked to journey from Nigeria.
The nation additionally has very sturdy journey hyperlinks with South Africa, for instance Nigeria is the second hottest flight vacation spot from Johannesburg.
The pink record adjustments come into impact on Monday at 04:00.
Anybody touching down earlier than this time is “strongly inspired to isolate at house,” whereas their family also needs to self-isolate for ten days beginning with their arrival in England, the federal government stated.
Affected people might be contacted and provided free PCR checks to be taken on day eight after their arrival.
