The UK is asking all travelers arriving in England from today with a negative Covid-19 test, even if you have a full vaccination schedule, to tighten restrictions justified by the authorities by expanding the omicron variant. The measure, which sets a maximum period of 48 hours before the flight to take the test, will affect all people over the age of 12, regardless of whether or not they have completed a Covid-19 vaccination schedule.
Britain’s health minister, Sajid Javid, warned on Monday that British health authorities had found infections of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 in several areas of England not linked to overseas travel, meaning there was already community transmission. This measure joins the measure approved just one week ago, which is again mandatory for all travelers to undergo a PCR test two days after their return to the UK.
The British Parliament has agreed to reintroduce the mandatory use of a mask in public transport and shops in England, in the context of the worsening epidemic situation in the European country and given the concerns raised by the omicron variable. The UK abolished the mandatory use of a mask, and the rest of the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, on July 19.
Nigeria on Monday joined the “red list” already joined by South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. On the other hand, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Latvia and Ukraine can use the EU Covid-19 digital certificate to add proof of vaccination status to the UK passenger locator form.
261 cases of an omicron variable
In an intervention before the House of Commons, Javid explained that British health authorities had counted 261 cases in England, 71 in Scotland and four in Wales. In addition, he noted that the incubation period with omicron could be shorter than that recorded with the delta variant of the virus, although he acknowledged that there is still no clear information on whether the new mutation generates more or more serious disease. Vaccine resistance.
Meanwhile, the British Ministry of Health recorded 51,459 more cases of Covid-19 virus during the past 24 hours, in addition to 41 deaths from the disease. Thus, the total increased to 10,515,239 and 145,646, respectively.