UK presents new rules for international travel: it will have a ‘country red light’ due to COVID-19

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reveals the new rules for international travel and one controversial health passport project, with a view to gradually returning to normal after months of restrictions in the UK.

The conservative leader is in favor of caution for fear of ruining the success of a mass vaccination campaign in which the country, the most affected in Europe with nearly 127,000 dead, has pinned all its hopes.

“We have made tremendous progress in recent months with our immunization program and everyone in the country has made great sacrifices so that we can reach this stage of our recovery from covid-19,” he said. in a press release. “We are doing our best to allow the reopening of our country (…) in the safest way possible“He added.

For the British, who after having to stay at home want to go on holiday abroad this summer, something prohibited until at least May 17, will present a traffic light that classifies countries according to the progress of vaccination, their infection rate or the presence of viral variants.

“We are doing all we can to allow the reopening of our country in the safest way possible”

This is not to call into question the campaign which vaccinated some 5.4 million people and delivered over 31.5 million first doses in the UK, nearly half of the total population, since December.

The green destinations (meet requirements) They will be exempt from quarantine upon their return, although travelers will need to be tested before leaving and after arrival, unlike the orange and red country. In the latter case, for countries most at risk, travelers must serve a ten-day isolation period in hotels designated by the government.

However, Downing Street considers it premature to draw up a country list and continues to discourage overseas bookings.

Currently, all travelers arriving in the UK must complete and pay out of pocket for a ten-day hotel quarantine if they are coming from countries at risk, and borders are closed to non-residents coming from a country on the Red List (including South America and South Africa).

The head of government is expected to detail the plans at a press conference scheduled for 16:00 GMT.

“Discriminatory” passports

To keep the virus under control, the government is also planning to test a health passport system for large gatherings in England, such as football matches and indoor events.

This certificate would inform that the person is vaccinated, is negative for the coronavirus, or has antibodies. It would not be needed in public transport or in essential stores, which is scheduled to reopen on April 12, as are the pub terraces.

In mid-April they will be done pilot tests, mainly in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

But this health passport project is embarrassing and more than 70 British MPs from all political backgrounds oppose it as “discriminatory”, which could overthrow him if he voted in Parliament.

Finally, to facilitate the reopening and “break the chains of contagion”, the inhabitants of England will be able to undergo two rapid detection tests per week from Friday.

According to the latest official figures, as of Sunday, ten deaths from covid-19 were reported in the UK and 2,297 new infections, while 31,523,010 people received the first dose of the vaccine and 5,381,745 the second dose.

The UK, which vaccinates with Oxford / AstraZeneca and BioNTech / Pfizer preparations, expects to have vaccinated the entire adult population by the end of July. EFE

(With information from AFP and EFE)

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