Omicron: UK bows to pressure, removes 10 countries from red list

The United Kingdom has agreed to remove Nigeria and other 10 countries from its travel red list from tomorrow (Wednesday).

The move had triggered reactions from concerned Nigerians who argued that the UK government was unfair in its decision.

The Federal Government had also vowed to take actions if the decision was not reversed.

Speaking to the UK parliament on Tuesday, the UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the Omicron had spread so widely that the rules are now less effective.

He added that, “Now that there is community transmission of Omicron in the UK and Omicron has spread so widely across the world, the travel red list is now less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad,” he told the parliament.

“Whilst we will maintain our temporary testing measures for international travel, we will be removing all 11 countries from the travel red list effective from 4am tomorrow morning”.

According to BBC, the new directive stated that all UK arrivals from red list countries must pay for and self-isolate in a pre-booked, government-approved hotel for 10 days.