Coronavirus | Britain provides India to COVID-19 journey ‘pink record’ amid 103 new variant circumstances in U.Okay.
The transfer got here hours after Downing Street had introduced the cancellation of Prime Minister Boris Mr. Johnson’s go to to India
Britain on Monday added India to its COVID-19 journey “red list”, which successfully bans all journey from the nation and makes a 10-day lodge quarantine obligatory for U.Okay. residents arriving again to the nation.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the transfer within the House of Commons as he revealed that 103 circumstances of the so-called Indian variant had been recognized within the U.Okay., of which the “vast majority have links to international travel”.
He stated that samples of that variant have been analysed to see if the brand new variant has any “concerning characteristics”, similar to better transmissibility or resistance to remedies and vaccines.
“After studying the data, and on a precautionary basis, we’ve made the difficult but vital decision to add India to the red list,” the Minister advised MPs.
“This means anyone who is not a U.K. or Irish citizen… cannot enter the U.K. if they have been in India in the previous 10 days,” he stated.
The new guidelines, which Mr. Hancock stated has not been taken “lightly”, will come into drive from Friday.
The transfer got here hours after Downing Street had introduced the cancellation of Prime Minister Boris Mr. Johnson’s go to to India subsequent week because of a spike in coronavirus infections within the nation.
Earlier, when requested if India could be added to the journey “red list”, Mr. Johnson stated that was “very much a matter for the independent U.K. Health Security Agency – they will have to take that decision”.