COVID-19: Travel industry says return of pre-departure tests for all UK arrivals is a ‚devastating blow‘ – as Nigeria is added to the red list | UK News

Airline operators have mentioned the return of pre-departure coronavirus checks for all worldwide arrivals to the UK can be a „devastating blow for aviation and tourism“.

The rule is being launched to sort out the unfold of the Omicron variant and applies to all travellers over the age of 12 visiting the UK or getting back from a vacation, no matter vaccination standing. It’ll come into pressure from 4am on Tuesday 7 December.

Well being Secretary Sajid Javid mentioned the measure is because of an „growing variety of instances linked to journey“. Checks should be taken a most of 48 hours earlier than the departure time.

Everything you need to know as COVID travel rules change again

Chairman and CEO of British Airways Sean Doyle described the transfer as a „devastating blow“.

He mentioned: „The blanket re-introduction of testing to enter the UK, on high of the present regime of isolation and PCR testing on arrival is totally out of step with the remainder of the world, with each different nation taking a measured method primarily based on the science.

„Our prospects will now be confronted with uncertainty and chaos and but once more this a devastating blow for everybody who works within the journey trade.“

The Airport Operators Affiliation echoed Mr Doyle’s phrases, saying that pre-departure checks can be a „devastating blow for aviation and tourism“.

CEO of Airways UK Tim Alderslade mentioned the fast adjustments to UK entry necessities have made it „not possible“ for the journey trade to plan forward.

He mentioned: „It’s untimely to hit hundreds of thousands of passengers and trade earlier than we see the total information.

„We do not have the scientific proof. The purple record extension made full sense – that is what it is there for – however we all know from expertise that blanket restrictions don’t cease the importation of variants.“

The Labour Occasion is in favour of the federal government transfer however mentioned it has come too late, with Shadow Residence Secretary Yvette Cooper tweeting: „Lastly! However why on earth is that this nonetheless solely being introduced in almost TWO WEEKS AFTER Omicron was recognized?“

Shadow well being secretary Wes Streeting posted on Twitter: „Lastly the Well being Secretary accepts Labour’s name for pre-departure checks, however why as much as 48 hours earlier than flight?“

Along with take a look at for all worldwide arrivals, Nigeria is being added to the journey purple record – becoming a member of a number of southern African nations which have been placed on it after the Omicron variant was first detected within the UK late final month.

It implies that solely UK residents and residents will be capable to enter the nation from Nigeria, and so they must pay to remain in a quarantine resort for 10 days.

That change is available in from 4am on Monday, with Mr Javid saying Nigeria is „second solely to South Africa for instances linked to Omicron“.

Mr Streeting added that there are „27 instances already in England and that is rising“.

General, there are now 160 confirmed cases of Omicron in the UK, with British scientists having steered that it might have a „shorter incubation interval“ than different variants.

Mr Javid acknowledged that the recent measures are „massively unlucky“ for individuals who already had journey plans, however insisted they might be „short-term“.

„We need to take away them as quickly as we presumably can,“ he added, saying that „vaccines stay our first line of defence“.

Journey guidelines are a matter for the devolved administrations, however measures launched by Downing Road are often replicated elsewhere, and Scotland rapidly introduced the identical testing necessities.

The brand new journey guidelines come as Mr Javid has referred to as on the general public to get the booster vaccine earlier than spending time with their family members this Christmas.

Mr Javid mentioned it was „completely essential“ that the general public „top-up“ their immunity earlier than the vacations.

A complete of 19.8 million folks had acquired their third jab by 4 December, whereas greater than 51 million have had their first dose and nearly 46.5 million their second.

The Division of Well being and Social Care estimates that 20 million can have had the booster by 5 December.